Joint MOM-BCA-EDB-HPB press release - Work Pass Privileges of Two Employers Suspended for Breaching Rostered Routine Testing Requirements

Friday, 16 October 2020

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has suspended the work pass privileges of two employers for failing to arrange for their workers undergo Rostered Routine Testing (RRT). The action was taken after the employers did not provide valid reasons or submit an exemption request for their workers. As these employers have been errant, they will no longer be able to continue employing the two work pass holders. The affected workers have been given a grace period to look for alternative employment as they were not complicit with the breach of requirements.

2        Since August 2020, MOM, the Economic Development Board (EDB), the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), and the Health Promotion Board have been engaging employers and reminding them to send their workers for RRT. This includes providing employers the necessary support with the Swab Registration System and to submit exemption requests if their workers do not go into work sites. In the past months, the number of swab facilities for RRT has also been ramped up across Regional Screening Centres and at dormitories to ensure sufficient appointment slots as well as to increase the convenience and accessibility for employers and workers.

3        Through these efforts, the vast majority of about 260,000 workers have undergone or have been scheduled for RRT. We thank employers and workers for their cooperation. About 2,200 workers who are required to undergo RRT have yet to do so. These include workers who missed their subsequent RRT appointments, and workers who are newly-identified to require RRT because they enter worksites. The AccessCode Status for these workers will remain Red and they cannot return to work. About half of them have been scheduled for RRT and will be able to resume work once they have been tested. MOM, EDB, and BCA will follow up and assist the employers of the remaining workers who have not been scheduled for RRT.

4        MOM will continue to take action against errant employers or workers who persistently failed to schedule or attend their RRT sessions without valid reasons, including the revocation of work passes and suspension of work pass privileges.

5        Employers should approach their respective sector leads should they have queries on the RRT requirements:

Download PDF version of Media Release