Singapore Relaxes Social Distancing Measures – Limited Return to Workplace and Entry for Work Pass Holders / Dependants

On 6 August 2021, the Singapore Multi-Ministry Taskforce announced that the social distancing measures currently in place will be gradually eased in two phases from 10 August 2021 and 19 August 2021 respectively. The move reflects the progress that has been made in recent weeks in driving Singapore’s vaccination rate, with around 70% of the population now having been fully vaccinated as at the time of writing. The full press release issued by the Ministry of Health can be accessed here (together with a detailed Annex here).

The key changes from an employment perspective are:

• From 10 August, work pass holders and their dependants with travel history to higher risk countries and regions can start applying for entry approval subject to certain conditions. See further details below.
• From 19 August, up to 50% of employees who are able to work from home will be allowed to return to the workplace, and social gatherings will be allowed to resume.

While the changes are welcome news for the business community in Singapore, employers will now need to plan ahead for a resumption of onsite business operations. This will require a review of health and safety protocols and remote working policies, as well as carefully developing a communication strategy with employees and other onsite workers.

Some of the other key changes that will impact the public generally include:

• The limit on social gathering group sizes will be increased from 2 persons to 5 persons.
• The limit on visitors per household per day will be increased from 2 persons to 5 persons.
• Groups of up to 5 persons will be allowed to dine-in at F&B establishments provided all the diners are fully vaccinated. Hawker centres and coffee shops can serve both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons to dine but this will be subject to a smaller group size of up to 2 persons only.

In addition, the Taskforce has indicated that going forwards from 1 October the Government will introduce a ‘vaccinate or regular test’ regime for selected sectors of the workforce. This means that individuals working in the following sectors will be required to vaccinate or undergo regular testing twice per week:

• Healthcare, eldercare and settings with children aged 12 years and below.
• F&B establishments, gyms and fitness studios, personal care services and any other sectors involving interaction with customers in higher-risk mask-off settings.
• Public servants.

Further details on the ‘vaccinate or regular test’ regime are due to be announced in the coming weeks.

Resuming Entry Approvals For Vaccinated Work Pass Holders And Their Dependants

As part of the reduced measures and in light of Singapore’s high vaccination rate, the Ministry of Manpower has also announced a relaxation of the current border restrictions to facilitate more travel and introduce vaccination-differentiated border measures for travellers from countries/regions that have shown an ability to control the pandemic and vaccinate large parts of their population.

From 10 August 2021, work pass holders and their dependants with travel history to higher risk countries/regions can start applying for entry approval on the condition that they must be fully vaccinated before arrival in Singapore. “Higher risk countries/regions” refers to (as at the date of writing) all countries/regions except Brunei, Hong Kong, Mainland China (including Jiangsu Province), Macao, New Zealand and Taiwan. An individual is considered “fully vaccinated” 2 weeks after they have received the full regimen of Pfizer-BioNTech/ Comirnaty, Moderna or WHO EUL vaccines.

However, the Ministry of Health has clarified that all long term pass holders are not allowed entry into Singapore if they have recent travel history (including transit) within the last 21 days to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Entry approvals for those from Indonesia are also limited.

Work pass holders and their dependants who are approved for entry will need to show documentary proof of their full vaccination status to the airlines before boarding and at the checkpoint upon arrival in Singapore. Those who are unable to produce the necessary documentation will be denied boarding or entry. All pass holders and their dependants will also be subjected to the prevailing health protocols in Singapore.

Individuals who have received their vaccinations overseas must update their vaccination records in the National Immunisation Registry (NIR) within 2 weeks of completion of their Stay-Home Notice (SHN) in Singapore. To do so, they will need to show documentary proof of their overseas vaccination, and a positive serology test result taken at one of the Ministry of Health’s designated private healthcare providers. Failure to produce valid vaccination documents or take the required serology test may result in the suspension and revocation of work pass privileges.

There are special arrangements in place for dependants aged below 18 years old. The vaccination condition for entry will not apply to dependants aged below 12 years old. Unvaccinated dependants aged between 12 and 18 years old can enter without proof of vaccination, on the condition that they take their first vaccination using a PSAR vaccine within 1 month upon arrival in Singapore, and the second final vaccination within 1 month of the first dose. Work pass holders and dependants who are medically ineligible for vaccination should appeal to be exempted from the vaccination condition for entry, supported by a doctor’s memo, before applying for entry approval.

The vaccination condition for entry will not apply to migrant domestic workers, S Pass and work permit holders from the construction, marine shipyard and process sectors. This is because there are on-going industry initiatives in these sectors with tightened end-to-end safe management processes to bring these workers into Singapore safely and minimise the risk of COVID-19 importation. Entry applications will only be accepted for these work pass holders from higher risk countries/regions at a later date.

If you have any questions in relation to the above, please contact David Smail.

DLA Piper is restricted for regulatory reasons from practicing local law in Singapore, as are most international law firms. Where advice on Singapore law is required, we will work with a local firm to provide such advice while leveraging our own knowledge and experience as international counsel in international advisory and transactional work.