{"id":8108,"date":"2021-09-26T11:04:57","date_gmt":"2021-09-26T03:04:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/business\/?p=8108"},"modified":"2021-09-26T11:11:38","modified_gmt":"2021-09-26T03:11:38","slug":"covid-19-tightened-measures-and-govt-support-during-27-sep-to-24-oct-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/business\/covid-19-tightened-measures-and-govt-support-during-27-sep-to-24-oct-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 Tightened Measures And Govt Support During 27 Sep To 24 Oct 2021: 8 Things Businesses Need To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

More Safe Management Measures (SMM) will be put in place from 27 September 2021 to 24 October 2021<\/strong>. This will affect many businesses with employees deemed \u201cable to work from home\u201d. Such businesses are considered \u201cnon-affected\u201d sectors \u2013 and thus, not provided with more government support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read Also: It Hasn\u2019t Been Business As Usual For \u201cNon-Affected\u201d Sectors In Singapore<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This comes even as vaccination coverage has hit 82% in Singapore. While 98% of the cases were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, the Ministry of Health (MOH) says \u201cwe can expect to reach a daily count of 3,200 and beyond within the next 2 weeks\u201d. The tightened Safe Management Measures are to \u201cminimise the strain on our overall healthcare capacity\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MOH further states that \u201cwe do not need to return to a Heightened Alert\u201d. Nevertheless, the tightened Safe Management Measures will affect all businesses \u2013 even if they are considered \u201cNon-Affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 things businesses need to know about the latest COVID-19 Safe Management Measures from 27 September 2021 to 24 October 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1 Work-From-Home Is Default Arrangement For Employees \u201cAble To Work From Home\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Work-from-home will again become the default work arrangement for employees who are \u201cable to work from home\u201d. Employees who are able to work from home but need to return to the workplace for ad-hoc reasons are \u201cstrongly encouraged\u201d do so only after testing negative via an Antigen Rapid Test (ART). Employers should ensure that you are notified of your employees\u2019 return to the workplace and keep records of negative ART test results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For employees who need to return to their workplaces, they are \u201cstrongly encouraged\u201d to self-test via an ART. There should also be no cross-deployment or social interactions at workplaces. Employers should also implement flexible working hours and stagger start times for such employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those running home-based businesses (HBB), you need to adhere to a reduced number of only 2 unique visitors to your home each day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2 Work-From-Home Employees Who Have Children Will Have A Tough Time Balancing Work<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From 27 September 2021 to 6 October 2021, Home-Based Learning (HBL) will be implemented for all Primary and Special Education (SPED) schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Private Education Institutes (PEI) must also implement HBL for all students aged 12 and below from 27 September to 10 October 2021. However, any pre-school services may remain open. In-person tuition and enrichment classes for such students must also pivot online or be suspended. While preschools, MOE kindergartens, KCare Services and Student Care Centres will remain open, parents are being encouraged to keep their children at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s common sense that employees who have children at home with them will have a tougher time balancing work and caretaking. Employers need to understand this, and perhaps even support their employees who have children more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read Also: 7 Uniquely Singapore Care Packages Companies Can Send To Employees And Clients<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3 F&B Establishments Face Yet Another Blow<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Group sizes will be scaled down to two persons from five persons previously. This also means that F&B establishments can only allow 2 persons to dine-in if they are vaccinated. They can allow unvaccinated individuals with a valid negative pre-event test (PET) result, recovered individuals, and children aged 12 years and below as part of the 2 persons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawker centres and coffeeshops can continue accepting 2 persons dining in regardless of vaccination status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a special concession, dining-in will continue to be allowed at wedding receptions for up to 250 attendees if all are fully vaccinated. Groups will be limited to 5 persons per table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#4 Up To 1,000 Fully Vaccinated Persons Can Still Attend Events<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Large events of up to 1,000 persons for congregational and other worship services, cinemas, MICE, live performances and spectator sports events will be allowed. Attendees will have to be fully vaccinated. Otherwise, only up to 50 attendees will be allowed without Pre-Event Testing (PET). Children aged 12 and below cannot be vaccinated yet, and will be allowed to attend such events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marriage solemnisations may also continue, seated in groups of up to 2 persons, if they are fully vaccinated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#5 25% Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) Will Be Provided From 27 September To 24 October 2021<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) will be provided for the period where Safe Management Measures are tightened, this only applies to sectors that are \u201csignificantly affected\u201d. Hence, \u201cnon-affected\u201d will not receive it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affected sectors that will receive 25% JSS payout for employee salaries include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n