Easing of Movement Restrictions for Migrant Workers

As Singapore transits towards COVID resilience, clusters in the community and migrant workers dormitories will be detected from time to time. The dormitories are now more resilient with over 90% of workers having completed the full regimen of vaccination[1]. Together with the implementation of a multi-layered strategy to test, detect and contain the spread of COVID-19, we are now better prepared to handle any outbreaks at the dormitories.

2 The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will gradually ease movement restrictions for migrant workers living in dormitories. We will adopt a vaccination-differentiated approach, with unvaccinated individuals required to exercise stricter safe management measures or undergo additional testing to protect themselves and those around them.

From 13 September:

1. All migrant workers will be able to visit recreation centres (RCs) more frequently, up to two times a week [2]. MOM will work with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to introduce activities such as movie screenings, wellness, sporting and leisure events, and religious services at the RCs and in dormitories. Workers will be able to visit RCs within 48 hours of their negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or 24 hours of their negative Antigen Rapid Test (ART) result as part of the new mandatory ART between their Rostered Routine Testing (RRT). Workers who are looking to visit the RCs for the second time in the same week outside of the baseline test windows can do so with a negative ART result which can be done at the RC.

    

2. Organised excursions by NGOs for vaccinated migrant workers to local attractions will resume. These outings have been suspended since Phase 2 (Heightened Alert). Participants will take pre-event ART tests.

    

3. Vaccinated migrant workers will be allowed to visit the community as part of a pilot. For a start, each week, up to 500 vaccinated migrant workers from dormitories with good Safe Living Measures, no positive COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks, and high vaccination rates will be allowed to visit pre-identified locations for six hours. The first identified location is Little India. Workers will be required to take an ART before and three days after the visit. MOM will evaluate the pilot after a month to see how to safely expand the scope and scale.

3 We have adopted a calibrated approach to gradually ease movement restrictions for migrant workers, so as to manage public health risks.  We have also put in place the necessary safeguards to protect public health and prevent cross-infection between the community and the dormitories. MOM will monitor the situation to further ease the measures progressively and safely when conditions permit.

4 The fight against COVID-19 is a shared responsibility. We seek the support of all our stakeholders, including our migrant workers, employers, dormitory operators and the general public, to keep our workers and the community safe.