384 More Dormitories Declared Cleared Of Covid-19

1. 384 more dormitories have been cleared of COVID-19 with effect from today. These comprise 1 Purpose-Built Dormitory (PBD), 345 Factory-Converted Dormitories and 38 Construction Temporary Quarters. In addition, 23 Blocks for Recovered Workers (BRWs) in 5 PBDs have been cleared (see MOM website for latest list). This takes the total number to 625 dormitories and 44 BRWs in 17 PBDs cleared of COVID-19.
2. As of 6 July 2020, about 180,000 workers have either recovered, or have been tested to be free from the virus. Some of the workers are pending movement to appropriate accommodations before they can resume work. Others can return to work once dormitory operators, employers and workers have made the necessary preparations to complete the three required steps¹ that will help minimise the risk of new infections as the workers go to work on a daily basis. Most of the dormitories in the last two batches of cleared dormitories completed the steps in a week or less
   
   IMPROVED FEATURES ON ACCESSCODE.
3. From 12 July 2020, improved features will be rolled out on SGWorkPass to provide more information to employers and workers, and streamline the colours of AccessCode, so as to facilitate workers’ returning to work (details in Annex A):
   1. Migrant workers will be able to check why their AccessCode is “Red” by scanning the Quick Response (QR) code on their work pass cards and tapping on the AccessCode colour bar to find out which conditions they have not met. These conditions would include the health status of the worker, whether he and his company has obtained approval from sector agencies² to work, and whether his dormitory has been cleared (details in Annex B).
   2. AccessCode colours would be simplified to Green and Red colour codes. The Grey colour code will be removed. This means that workers’ AccessCode will be displayed as “Red” if employers and workers have not obtained approval from sector agencies to resume work.
4. Employers will also be able to check the AccessCode details of their workers through the new Safe@Work eService, which will be launched on MOM’s website on 12 July. The self-help features will help employers to understand the actions they can take for their workers to resume work. They will be able to check which conditions they or their workers have not met.
   
   FURTHER ADVISORY
5. The Forward Assurance and Support Teams (FAST) are working closely with dormitory operators, employers and migrant workers to complete all the necessary steps and clear the remaining dormitories. Employers can refer to the MOM website for the latest list of cleared dormitories and dormitories to be cleared in the coming weeks.
6. As we continue to gradually resume work, we urge all dormitory operators, employers and workers to remain vigilant and ensure that the Safe Working and Safe Living measures are rigorously followed.