The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has extended the waiver of foreign worker levies for S Pass and work permit holders till the end of 2021. It will also include domestic migrant workers. The SHN will safeguard the community and minimise the risk of COVID-19, as they “bring in workers safely and give them more time to adjust”.  

The construction sector has been badly hit by the pandemic, and stringent border control was making it worse. MOM has okayed a one-time renewal for work permit holders in the construction sector, and also waived the minimum period of employment requirement for the man-year entitlement waiver. The MOM also extended the validity of in-principle approvals for all work pass holders who were unable to enter the country and authorized a $1.36 Bn construction support package. 

Additionally, steps have been taken to provide better living conditions and healthcare for migrant workers. Newly built dormitories with en-suite toilets and fewer residents can help improve hygiene standards during this period. The construction sector will have to increase its productivity through digitization and automation to restart the industry. The process of prefabricated pre-finished volumetric construction (PPVC) will speed up production by 40 percent compared to traditional projects. The Avenue South Residence by developer UOL Group and contractor United Tec, is one such building. 

The pandemic has presented many new opportunities within the construction sector. Dr Tan has said: “Jobs in the construction sector have often been associated with the three Ds- dirty, dangerous and demanding. However, the sector is evolving and with this evolution comes many new career pathways that did not exist previously.”