All renovation works can resume on June 15, depending on availability of workers: BCA

SINGAPORE — All new home renovation works, as well as new and previously suspended renovation works for non-residential premises, may resume on Monday (June 15), said the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

In a press release on Saturday, BCA said that the resumption of renovation works would depend on companies’ availability of manpower and supplies. It advised homeowners to check with their contractors on this.

The authority last week announced a simplified two-day approval process for contractors to resume home renovation projects, provided their submissions are in order.

BCA had said contractors would need to only provide information on the address of the renovation site, the workers’ names, identification card numbers and addresses, as well as the nature of the works to be done.

So far, more than 19,000 suspended home renovation projects have been allowed to resume.

Companies who employ work permit or S Pass holders not listed in earlier approved applications to restart home renovations should submit applications to the BCA.

Once an application is approved, workers residing in private residential properties and HDB premises can start work.

However, those residing in dormitories will only be able to work after their dormitories have been cleared of Covid-19. Work permit or S Pass holders will need to undergo regular Covid-19 testing after they start work, and the BCA said it will assist companies with scheduling these tests.

Companies performing renovation works must also comply with BCA’s Covid-safe restart criteria and its guidelines for worker accommodation and transport, as well as the Ministry of Manpower’s safe management measures for workplaces.

Earlier, BCA had said that even if it has given approval for works to begin, some renovation projects may still be delayed. This is because some contractors may not be able to secure certain materials due to supply chain disruptions.

Other contractors may have workers who are still residing in dormitories still isolated from the community, or workers who are in Malaysia and are unable to travel to Singapore due to the country’s movement control order.

Besides renovation work, BCA said has allowed more than 300 construction projects to resume work. It is also working with construction firms on another 250 projects to help them resume work safely.