Circuit breaker breaches: 45 firms fined, 9 have work pass privileges suspended but most comply, says MOM

SINGAPORE — More than 200 firms here have been disciplined for breaching safe distancing and circuit breaker measures, or failing to ensure employees abided by stay-home notice requirements, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Friday (May 8).

In all, 45 firms were fined a total of S$45,000, nine had their work pass privileges suspended, and the rest received stern warnings, MOM said in a statement.

MOM said that the “vast majority” of the 15,000 workplaces it inspected from April 7 to May 5 had been compliant with the circuit breaker rules.

In addition, 29 work pass holders out of 75,000 checked from April 13 to 30 were permanently banned from working in Singapore after being found eating, drinking and gathering in groups or leaving their residence in breach of stay-home orders.

In the past few weeks, migrant workers living in dormitories have accounted for the vast majority of Covid-19 cases here.

Companies still operating in Singapore are required to roll out safe distancing measures to slow the spread of Covid-19. Firms providing non-essential services have been required to close since April 7.

The ministry said it took action against 170 non-essential firms that had not obtained approval to operate during the circuit breaker, which is expected to end on June 1. Composition fines totalling S$16,000 were issued to 16 of these firms, while stern warnings were given to the rest.

It also issued composition fines totalling S$29,000 to 29 workplaces for breaching safe distancing measures, such as failing to conduct temperature screening or crowd management.

“MOM will continue to conduct checks on businesses and workers to ensure compliance (with) circuit breaker measures and stay-home notice requirements, so as to keep our workplaces safe,” it said.

MOM added it would later issue an advisory with the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation to help companies prepare to resume operations after the circuit breaker.

The advisory will cover how firms can put in place safe management measures, reduce physical interaction, ensure safe distancing at workplaces, and support contact tracing requirements.

It will also provide information on requiring personal protective equipment and having employees observe personal hygiene, ensuring the cleanliness of workplace premises as well as implementing health checks and protocols to manage potential Covid-19 cases.