Tourist visas for tourists from South Asian countries have been suspended indefinitely although temporarily in the Maldives. The new restrictions will take effect on Thursday, May 13th. The country only suspended entry of Work Permit Holders from South Asian countries three days ago, on May 8. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka…
Higher foreign worker levy rebates as COVID-19 measures tighten labour supply Toggle share menu
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Higher foreign worker levy rebates as COVID-19 measures tighten labour supply
A migrant worker looks on in a construction site in Singapore on Aug 20, 2020. (AFP/Roslan RAHMAN)
08 May 2021 11:35AM (Updated:
08 May 2021 11:40AM) Share this content
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SINGAPORE: Companies in the construction, marine shipyard and process (CMP) sectors facing a labour crunch and increased costs because of COVID-19 restrictions will enjoy some reprieve in the coming months.
Around 15,000 such firms will see an increase in foreign worker levy rebates from May to December, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced on Saturday (May 8). The rebate for each work permit holder in the CMP sectors will go up from S$90 per month to S$250 per month.
Singapore offers foreign worker levy rebate to companies facing labour shortage
Singapore offers foreign worker levy rebate to companies facing labour shortage
Singapore, May 8: Around 15,000 foreign companies in Singapore facing labour shortage due to the government’s decision to stop the arrival of workers from India and Bangladesh will be given a hike in foreign workers levy rebates from May to December, Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced on Saturday.
Singapore has halted the arrival of passengers from India and Bangladesh considering the massive spike in the number of cases of coronavirus.
As per the new decision taken by the Singapore government the companies that would get the advantage of increase in foreign workers levy rebate are from the sectors of construction, marine shipyard and process (CMP) sectors.
Help is on the way for the Singaporean construction industry.
The Multi-Ministry Task Force announced on April 26 a slew of measures to help offset the impact of recent tightened border measures.
Those measures affected people travelling to Singapore who had recent travel history in India, which includes migrant workers whom companies in the construction industry is dependent on.
1. Temporary scheme to recruit workers from China without having to enrol in Overseas Testing Centres for skill certification
From May 7, 2021, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will introduce a temporary scheme for six months to allow new PRC Work Permit Holders to obtain their skills certification in Singapore.
The current total number of cases is 59,059.
Community case detected before flying to Vietnam
The single community case is a 57-year-old female Singaporean who is a homemaker.
She is an asymptomatic case, and went for a Covid-19 test on Jan. 13 in preparation for a trip to Vietnam.
Her polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test yielded a high Ct value, which is indicative of a low viral load.
Her serological test result has also come back positive, which indicates a likely past infection.
Her close contacts and family have been placed on quarantine and epidemiological investigations are ongoing.
Locations visited
Here are the locations visited by the community case while she was infectious, a 14-day incubation period.