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Majority of Employers Compliant with Entry Approval Requirements for Work Pass Holders

Employment practices Foreign manpower Work passes and permits
  1. Since the implementation of the entry approval requirements for work pass holders with travel history to mainland China, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has approved on average 220 applications and rejected 500 daily, to manage their inflow into Singapore.
  2. To date, MOM has revoked the work passes of 11 workers for breaching the entry approval requirements. These workers had proceeded to enter Singapore despite failing to obtain approval from MOM. The workers have been repatriated and permanently banned from working in Singapore. MOM has also suspended the work pass privileges of their employers for one year.
  3. Mrs Penny Han, Divisional Director of MOM’s Work Pass Division, said, “The majority of employers have been compliant with our entry approval requirements, in spite of the short notice. They understand the need for such measures to help Singapore manage the evolving COVID-19 situation and we are grateful for their support. However, there remains a small minority who choose to blatantly disregard these safeguards. We would like to remind employers of the need to take these requirements seriously. The Covid-19 situation is still evolving and we cannot afford to be complacent.” 

    REMINDER TO ALL EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES

  4. Employers are reminded to seek approval using the online facility for work pass holders with recent travel history to mainland China to enter or return to Singapore. Employers should inform their employees not to make travel plans to Singapore until approval has been obtained from MOM. 
  5. Upon the employee’s arrival in Singapore, they will be required to serve a mandatory 14-day Stay-Home-Notice (SHN). Employers and employees have a joint duty to ensure that the employee behaves responsibly during the SHN. 
  6. MOM will not hesitate to take enforcement measures against errant employers or employees who do not comply with the requirements set out above, including the revocation of work passes and suspension of work pass privileges.