MOM: Telecommuting should be allowed by companies where "reasonably practicable"

Companies that do not provide telecommuting measures for workers at jobs that allow for such measures may be committing something that can be considered as an offence soon. The multi-ministry task force will put in place such new regulations as a measure to combat the pandemic.
On Tuesday (31 March), Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo stated, “Employers must allow their employees to work from home as far as reasonably practicable. This applies to all workplaces regardless of size, and it should be for all times, all days, and not sometimes, some days.”
At a video conference virtual briefing, Ms Teo spoke to reporters so that safe distancing can be observed. This manner of briefing is the first since the establishment of the multi-ministry task force.
The public service has led the way in telecommuting, seeing that agencies like Infocomm Media Development Authority and Urban Redevelopment Authority have accomplished 90 per cent rates of telecommuting. Also, Ms Teo pointed out that some private-sector firms achieved high rates of telecommuting, such as Bloomberg, at 80 per cent.
However, Ms Teo highlighted that only 40 per cent of firms in the Central Business District have permitted telecommuting, based on MOM’s inspection and observations.
Hence, more than 100 enforcement officers – five times the current number – will be deployed across different parts of the country to increase compliance, Ms Teo added.
Firms that require help in implementing telecommuting can approach the Singapore National Employers Federation, the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, or the Employment and Employability Institute. Besides that, the Work Life Grant will be improved to aid companies in allowing telecommuting to workers.
For firms that cannot implement telecommuting – like manufacturing firms – they should stagger arrival and departure hours as well as implement safe distancing among workers and customers, Ms Teo stressed.
The enforcement of the measures will undergo fine-tuning by the government, and more details will be released later, she added.
Companies may be issued a fine or Stop Work Order if they persistently refuse to implement telecommuting measures.
Ms Teo said that “we must look at safe distancing at the workplace as something that helps the employers,” and companies can be out of action for some time if there is viral transmission at the workplace.
Meanwhile, Health Minister and Co-Chair of a multi-ministry task force Gan Kim Yong noted at the same briefing that a time-limited and exceptional extension of the Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) subsidy for chronic ailments and MediSave for the regular follow-up of seven chronic conditions will be introduced by the Ministry of Health (MOH). This will be conducted via video consultation. This measure also backs the safe distancing measures already implemented by the task force.
Despite the country implementing stricter social distancing measures as of Friday (27 March), with entertainment venues and bars shut down, there has been an increase in the number of local infections in recent days.
Singapore registered 47 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with 16 being imported cases. Among the locally transmitted cases, 18 were unlinked cases whereas 13 were linked to clusters or other individuals.
Compared to before the measures were in place, the trend was reversed, whereby the number of imported cases rose as more Singaporeans returned back from abroad.
The number of returnees from the United Kingdom and the United States now stand at around 300 per day, lower than the 1,200 last week, according to National Development Minister and Co-Chair of the multi-ministry task force Lawrence Wong.
There are around 1,500 people coming back from all parts of world each day, and they have to self-quarantine themselves for 14 days at home as per the Stay-Home Notice.
The number of imported cases is falling because of the lower number of returnees, Mr Wong remarked. The main priority now is the locally transmitted cases and the unlinked cases, he stressed.
The unlinked cases are due to the exposure that happened prior to the enforcement of the safe distancing measures, according to the Director of Medical Services at MOH Kenneth Mak. These individuals were exposed to those individuals who continued their social activity against the advisories.