The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) of Singapore has released a statement for taking enforcement action has been taken against 21 workplaces in Singapore that have failed to comply with government advisories on safe distancing measures to reduce the risk of local transmission of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

The MOM has issued thirteen stop-work orders and eight remedial orders to workplaces that disregarded the need for safe distancing, during the first day of enforcement.

The inspections target workplaces with large groups of workers, such as factories, construction sites, and shipyards as well as collaborative workplaces.

MOM also noted that some companies have also adopted other precautionary measures to protect workers' well-being, such as temperature screening.

The ministry reminded all employers to place their employees on work-from-home arrangements wherever possible, especially for vulnerable employees such as older workers, pregnant workers and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

For roles which require the worker to return to the company, employers should ensure wider physical spacing of at least 1m for work stations and seats in meeting rooms, pantries, rest areas and other congregation points, MOM said.

They should also reduce duration and proximity of physical interactions, stagger working hours, defer non-critical work events and scale down critical work events, and implement or enhance shift or split team operations, MOM added in the statement.

Safe distancing measures should also be clearly communicated to all workers.

MOM said that these inspections will continue and appropriate enforcement actions against non-compliant workplaces will be taken.

To know more on how workplaces can take necessary health precautions, People Matters has specially curated a guide, COVID-19: Responding to people & work implications - A step by step guide by People Matters. This guidebook can help you stay updated on the policies by the government, employer relation best practices, and how you can escalate your efforts to take timely and right measures in this period of uncertainty. 

You can also refer to this checklist, where we have set out action items to address key issues at workplace due to COVID-19.