58 errant businesses, persons fined in first week post-circuit breaker, malls urged to ‘gear up’ for larger crowds

SINGAPORE — A total of 58 businesses and individuals were fined from June 2 to 8 for breaching safe distancing rules, following inspections at workplaces, malls and tourism establishments in the first week of the reopening of selected business activities.

Among those fined, five were businesses that had failed to enforce proper safe management measures, Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said in a joint statement on Tuesday (June 9). The companies were fined S$1,000 each.

These breaches included the failure to put in place 1m safe distancing measures at workplace premises and storefronts, or failing to direct employees to work from home when their jobs allow them to do so.

The remaining 53 were individuals, including members of the public, and retail and food-and-beverage employees. They were fined S$300 each for not wearing masks, breaching the ban on social gatherings or leaving their place of residence for non-essential purposes.

First-time offenders face fines of up to S$10,000 and six months’ jail, while subsequent offences can incur fines of up to S$20,000 and imprisonment for a year under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act.

“We take a serious view of any infringement of safe distancing measures and will not hesitate to take actions against non-compliant businesses and individuals,” the two government agencies said.

“Employers should also note that working from home must be the default mode of working for companies resuming operations in Phase One and Two. Employees who have been working from home must continue to do so unless there is no alternative.”

Malls and shops will need to “gear up” to manage larger groups of people as more activities resume, they said.

“We urge businesses to continue to comply with the safe distancing measures such as implementing SafeEntry (check-in system to facilitate contact tracing), ensuring proper queue markings and crowd control during anticipated peak periods and ensuring that employees put on face masks properly at all times except during meals.”

They reminded the public to be vigilant as well, to practise safe distancing and cooperate with the measures put in place by the establishments.

“Together, we can work towards the safe reopening of phase two of our economy,” ESG and STB said.

ESG has advised 10 businesses on how they may improve the measures that are implemented.

Common areas for improvements include ensuring that employees do not socialise or congregate in groups at the workplace; having clearly demarcated safe distancing markings of at least 1m in common areas; staggering of work hours; and providing an isolation room for those who are unwell, the agencies said.