Under a scheme announced as a part of the Manpower Ministry’s temporary measures to manage manpower needs during the coronavirus outbreak, companies in the manufacturing and service industries will be able to hire workers with a Chinese work permit from those firms that are wanting to release them. 

An appropriate transfer arrangement for the workers should be arranged by companies while the Singapore Business Federation matches such employers through their SBF ManpowerConnect scheme for six months. The companies that are wanting to release their workers must provide the SBF with relevant basic information about the workers they want to release such as the worker’s skill sets, work experience, expected date of release, etc. 

Such information will be helpful for the SBF to collate a database and share with prospective employers who can then directly coordinate with the worker’s employer. Employers who are releasing their employees would have to cancel their workers’ work permit so that a new work permit can be issued for them. 

For the first month, the SBF will be providing this service for free and will charge a nominal fee after that duration. 

As workforces and governments across the world, especially in the APAC region, are dealing with manpower challenges stemming from the coronavirus outbreak and the government’s strict rules for workers returning from China. 

“We’re pleased that the Ministry of Manpower has put in place this temporary and practical measure to help our companies in a time of need,” said Teo Siong Seng, SBF Chairman. 

Key takeaway 

The entire economy of Singapore and other countries of the region is reeling under the ripple effects of the coronavirus outbreak and employers and employees are seeking solutions in order to tackle the manpower issue facing the country. It is precisely why, such schemes have been introduced in order to provide a temporary fix for those employers with foreign employees.