The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced that employers must allow employees, particularly office workers, to work from home through telecommuting wherever applicable.
This was announced by Manpower Minister Josephine Teo during Multi-Ministry Taskforce Press Conference on 31 March 2020.
This will make it an offence for employers not to put in telecommuting measures where the nature of work allows for it.
Currently, the Government estimates around 40 per cent of workers in the Central Business District are telecommuting from home, a number that they say can be further improved on.
Mrs Teo stated: “There is a lot of scope for us to do more, especially for private sector firms. Employers must allow your 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.”
Mrs Teo also suggested if telecommuting is not practical or possible, safe distancing within the office should be implemented and adhered to. (Click here for MOM's advisory on safe distancing measures at the workplace)
Companies should also consider staggered arrival and departure hours from office to minimise congestion in both public transport as well as lifts.
The amended regulations will require employers to implement telecommuting where it is practicable to do so.
“If we access that a company has not made a serious enough effort to implement telecommuting, then we may have to issue a Stop Work Order,” said Mrs Teo.
Details of how enforcement will be done will be announced at a later date.
To help companies implement telecommuting, the Government will enhance the Work-Life Grant.
Companies that need help implementing telecommuting can approach the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), NTUC e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) or the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF)
For the latest advisories on the Covid-19 situation, visit Gov.sg for more details.
