All sectors will have to change work practices to allow reopening: Lawrence Wong

EVEN after "circuit-breaker" measures are lifted, all firms will have to change their work culture and practices, said Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong in a ministerial statement in Parliament on Monday.

In construction, for example, the industry will have to fundamentally change the way that activities are carried out. "We will need a whole range of measures covering the worksites, the accommodation and transport of workers, as well as additional precautions taken by the workers themselves," said Mr Wong who co-chairs the multi-ministry taskforce on Covid-19.

Despite progress in construction productivity, there are still 270,000 migrant workers in the sector, and one worksite can have hundreds of workers from multiple dormitories. A single infected worker could spread the virus to co-workers at a site, who might then in turn bring the infection back to their dormitories and to places where they gather with friends. Changes must therefore be made to avoid the formation of large clusters in this way.

The need to change "applies to all sectors of the economy", he added. "Life after the 'circuit-breaker' will not be a return to status quo ante."

The Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Manpower Ministry are engaging industry associations, business chambers and firms, to help them adapt to these new required measures.

For instance, telecommuting will have to be a default option, extended to all staff. For those who cannot telecommute, strict safe management practices will have to be implemented.

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These include split team arrangements, staggered working and lunch break hours, and higher hygiene standards. Staff should not gather in groups at any time, not even in the pantry or staff canteen. "Wherever possible, we should make full use of technology to enable the implementation of these measures."

"All of these safeguards must be in place before we can begin to reopen more workplaces and allow more people to resume going to work," he said.

"When we do so, we will start with industries that are critical to the economy and to local employment, and that keep us connected to the world and global supply chains," he added.

Sectors that will have to wait include entertainment outlets, activities that attract crowds, or those that put people in close contact with one another. For dining in at food and beverage outlets, "we will have to assess the risks and consider very carefully". Similarly, religious gatherings and services may take some time to resume.

Mr Wong once again stressed that testing and technologically-enabled contact-tracing are crucial to enable a safe reopening.

Even as testing capacity is being scaled up, a nation-wide testing strategy is being developed. This involves more extensive community surveillance to be better able to detect unlinked cases in the community. Higher-risk and more vulnerable groups, such as nursing homes and healthcare workers that have high touch-points with the community, will be prioritised in testing. Testing will then progressively expand to the rest of the essential workforce and the broader community.

As for contact tracing, two technology tools have already been implemented: SafeEntry, a digital system to log entry and exit of visitors to business premises and venues; and TraceTogether, which identifies other users with whom a user has been in close contact. The TraceTogether team is working with Apple and Google to make the app more effective. Solutions are also being developed for the elderly and the young who do not have smartphones, with details to be announced soon.