A pilot program was launched in July by some companies in the construction, marine and process sectors to bring migrant workers from India in a “calibrated manner”.
Companies in Singapore have praised the government’s move to reopen borders with India, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries, but they are also seeking clarity on measures that will allow manpower for the labor-intensive construction sector. Those who have been badly affected by COVID-19. global pandemic.
Many companies facing labor shortage have expressed uncertainty about the rate of workers from South Asian countries entering Singapore from 27 October. channel news asia.
Singapore began allowing travelers from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to enter or transit the country from 11.59 pm on 26 October. Short-term visitors are not included.
Straits Construction, which is building two executive condominiums and a public housing property at Tengah Housing Board among other projects, welcomed the relaxation measures. Most of its workers are from South Asia.
The channel quoted executive director and chief operating officer Kenneth Lu as saying, “As you know, the industry is really short of workers at the moment. The numbers that are coming in can hardly replace those going back.” “
“The issue going forward is what is the rate of workers coming in, and whether the gates will remain open, though still in a controlled manner, which I think it probably will be. How is it going to be regulated and what is the speed, ” He asked.
Travelers to these countries are subject to Category IV border restrictions, which include a 10-day stay at dedicated facilities at home notice.
Long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with travel history to Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the last 14 days were barred from entering or transiting Singapore from May 2. A similar ban was in force in India from April 24. The restrictions were implemented as the COVID-19 outbreak in India worsened and Singapore saw more localized cases.
Manpower Minister Tan Si Leng said in parliament on May 11 that the number of work permit holders in the construction, marine shipyard and process sectors has dropped by about 60,000 or 16% last year.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM), in a statement to the media in the same month, said that “over the past year, the outflow of migrant workers has exceeded the inflow, as many workers have terminated their contracts and have chosen to return home.” ” But as a result of border restrictions to “mitigate import risks”, the ministry said it had not been able to adequately replace those who had left Singapore before the country and on May 2 blocked the entry of everyone from South Asia. was completely stopped.
A pilot program was launched in July by some companies in the construction, marine and process sectors to bring migrant workers from India in a “calibrated manner”.
Companies that traditionally relied on migrant workers from India and Bangladesh also began to look forward to labor, but many of them told the channel that the cost of hiring workers from countries like China was too high. .
Louis Chua, executive director of the Singapore Contractors’ Association, said more details about the new border measures were yet to be provided by authorities, but it is “positive news” nonetheless.
“The news doesn’t give us much information, so in fact we are currently working with BCA agencies [Building and Construction Authority] And for MOM to understand what it means to bring vaccination workers from South Asian countries to Singapore, especially for the construction sector,” she said.
Similarly, the easing of border measures is good news for Success Forever, a building maintenance company that counts several city councils and government agencies among its clients, but director Jack Oye worries that workers may be outnumbered, Which can lead to “bottlenecks”. in the approval process.
“Of course I feel good about this news but the only thing suddenly everybody wants [the workers from South Asia to come in]. So maybe it will be a bottleneck too,” he added. cna.
Oi was quoted as saying, “Everyone wants to come once, it’s not even possible. I think the beginning will be a crazy rush.”
For companies hiring workers from South Asian countries, the relaxation of border controls means they can apply for tenders when they have a certain date for workers to enter Singapore.
“We need to know more clearly when this exemption will be granted in this new intake of workers,” said Goh Eng Lam, president of the Landscape Industry Association. [Singapore].
“Once they are able to come to Singapore, I can plan my time and my deployment. For example… if there is a tender or a job opportunity and I know it will be next year or so This year is about to start in December, and I know my worker could be here in October or November and need to be in quarantine for three months, at least I know, I can plan,” They said.
“But today, I did not dare to take some of these opportunities, because what if I am being given them and I have no manpower to meet the contractual obligations,” he asked.
Although companies in the labor-intensive construction sector now have “better foresight in our workload”, officials need to address specific arrangements for workers, said association treasurer Raymund Oi.
“We’re kinda glad they’re resting [the rules], but they are not clear what the exemption is. So maybe we want a little more clarity,” said Oi, who runs Limelight Productions, a landscape and construction company.
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