28 1 月, 2021

3,000 hotel staff in S’pore receive Covid-19 vaccination

SINGAPORE - About 3,000 workers in the hospitality industry have received the Covid-19 vaccine as at Monday (Jan 25), after an inoculation programme for the industry was rolled out on Jan 15. About two-thirds are staff in stay-home notice (SHN) dedicated facilities, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan on Thursday. He was speaking on the sidelines of a visit to the vaccination centre at Raffles City Convention Centre, where he witnessed hospitality staff receiving their first shot. The industry was picked as an early recipient of the vaccine, as its workers have been on the front line since March last year, with 70 hotels serving as SHN dedicated facilities, said Mr Tan. He emphasised that vaccination is just one of the country's pillars in the fight against Covid-19, alongside testing, contact tracing and safe management measures. Mr Tan said the inoculation programme will give workers in the industry confidence, especially with the risk of exposure to the virus when attending to those travelling from overseas. Singapore Hotel Association president Kwee Wei-Lin hopes the vaccination programme will also help return the industry to some normalcy. "We hope it brings back some confidence for our staff, their well-being, their families as well as international travellers when they do come back," said Ms Kwee. She added that the vaccine will be offered to all 40,000 workers in the industry on a voluntary basis, and that an employee's inoculation status will not impact how he is deployed. The hospitality industry was picked as an early recipient of the vaccine as its workers have been in the front line since March 2020. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO The industry plans to complete the programme by the third quarter of 2021. Asked about the industry's reaction to recent cases of hotel guests and staff contracting Covid-19, Ms Kwee said the industry was prepared, and that the inoculation programme is another layer of protection for staff. Mr Edward Chew, a lobby ambassador at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, was among those who received their first shot on Thursday. "The virus is vicious, you want to protect yourself, your family and loved ones, the colleagues you work with, and most importantly, the customers you engage," said the 69-year-old who has been with the hotel for 17 years. Shangri-La Hotel Singapore lobby ambassador Edward Chew receives his shot at Raffles City Convention Centre on Jan 28, 2021. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO More on this topic Related Story S'pore starts Covid-19 jabs for seniors, with AMK, Tanjong Pagar residents receiving shots Related Story Singapore rolls out Covid-19 vaccine for seniors: How to get your jab Mr Britt Ng, the head sommelier at Shangri-La, hopes getting the jab would assure future customers of their safety. "When they come and interact with us, I think they will feel more confident because we have been vaccinated," said the 34-year-old. Food and beverage executive Ahmad Ridzuan Ahmad said he was thankful to receive his first shot, especially as cases are soaring in his home country, Malaysia. The 35-year-old, who works for Pan Pacific Singapore, said the recent cases in hotels had him worried. "I'm on the front line and there's a lot of interaction with guests, so when offered the vaccine, I took it very positively," he said. More on this topic Related Story Interactive: Tracking the Covid-19 vaccine race Related Story Should I get the Covid-19 vaccine? What you need to know Related Stories: Related Story Hong Kong’s Covid-19 pandemic management disappointing: Carrie Lam Related Story Outbreaks in South Korea’s Christian schools drive surge in Covid-19 cases Related Story Panic buying, circuit breaker and reopening: A timeline of S'pore's Covid-19 fight Related Story Why scientists think British coronavirus variant could be more deadly Related Story WHO issues new clinical advice on treating Covid-19 patients Related Story Will the world fail to prepare for the next pandemic? Related Story Malaysia's worsening Covid-19 situation exposes serious economic, political fault lines Related Story More than 150 National Guard troops in Washington for inauguration test positive for coronavirus Related Story Dutch buy delivery uniforms, borrow dogs to dodge coronavirus curfew Related Story Foreigners without face masks punished with push-ups in Bali

31 12 月, 2020

Healthcare staff receive fruits from local restaurant on last day of 2020

SINGAPORE - On the last day of what has been a gruelling 2020, healthcare staff at 20 hospitals here received some cheer in the form of cartons of fruit, packed and sent by a local restaurant in Serangoon Road. The Mavalli Tiffin Rooms (MTR) had sent hot coffee and snacks to hospitals throughout the circuit breaker period from April to June, and on Thursday (Dec 31), distributed fruits to express its gratitude. Mr Raghavendra Shastry, the restaurant's operations director, said he thought it was a good time again to "thank the medical fraternity and healthcare workers for their hard work the whole year". "I asked myself, if not now, then when?" said Mr Shastry. Parliamentary secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Eric Chua, who helped prepare the cartons, said MTR's efforts are "truly commendable". "2020 has been a year of disruption and challenges for all of us, but I think one thing that we can all agree on is that we are very proud of our healthcare workers who have been working tirelessly and are committed to their jobs," said Mr Chua. The Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, Mr Periasamy Kumaran, who was also invited to witness the event, praised the Singapore Government for controlling the pandemic here, noting that Singapore is "perhaps one of the safest places to be in the world today". "I'm also hopeful that next year will be a much better one, and that we can hope to have a more normal lifestyle in the coming months," said Mr Kumaran. More on this topic Related Story Restaurant owners serve up free meals for hospital workers Related Story Billionaire Peter Lim pays for $1 million worth of meals for front-line healthcare workers

19 12 月, 2020

PM Lee thanks migrant workers for trust, support

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday expressed his thanks to migrant workers in Singapore for their trust, patience and support despite having gone through a difficult period since Singapore detected its first Covid-19 cases among them almost a year back. It took a "tremendous effort" to reach the current stabilised situation, but migrant workers are healthy and safe from the virus, said PM Lee in a video message marking International Migrants Day. "We could not have done this without your cooperation and sacrifices," he said. PM Lee assured migrant workers that they will be cared for just as Singaporeans are cared for. "You are welcomed members of our society. If you fall ill, we will make sure you get medical care, stay in touch with your families, and can return to work as soon as possible," he said. PM Lee noted that the rules put in place to keep the Covid-19 spread in check are gradually being eased in migrant worker dormitories and the wider community. Besides being able to visit recreational centres, migrant workers can now also take part in communal activities like cooking and sports, he said. "With some luck, if the number of cases stays very low, we can ease up further. Please stay vigilant, and cooperate with the Government and with your employers to keep everyone safe. "On behalf of all Singaporeans, I thank you once again for all your contributions and support, and I wish you a very happy International Migrants Day!" To mark the occasion, the Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) under the National Trades Union Congress has organised a series of activities and events that started on Sunday and will last till Dec 27. MWC said in a statement that it aims to reach out to 20,000 workers through these celebrations to thank them for their contributions to Singapore. Migrant workers can participate in a digital roadshow co-hosted by MWC and telecommunications company Singtel on MWC's Facebook page, which features performances by Bangladeshi and Indian celebrities as well as games with prizes to be won. More on this topic Related Story Migrant workers can return to the community once a month in pilot Related Story 47 per cent of migrant workers in S'pore dorms have had a Covid-19 infection, say Manpower and Health Ministries MWC will also present its annual awards to 20 migrant worker "grassroots ambassadors" to recognise their efforts in going "above and beyond" to help fellow workers during the circuit breaker period. Physical roadshows, where Singtel will offer discounts and promotions, are also being held at the MWC Recreation Centre in Soon Lee Road until tomorrow for migrant workers with valid exit passes allowing them to leave their dorms. MWC said in its statement that it has spared no effort in helping migrant workers get through the pandemic. "In 2020 alone, MWC has reached out to more than 650,000 migrant workers - the largest number of migrant workers helped in a year," MWC said. It added that it has distributed more than five million essential items, such as masks, hand sanitiser and soap, to workers living in dorms and temporary quarters, and it has also provided almost a million meals to some 10,000 workers living in factory-converted dorms. MWC said it also supported the deployment of 130 telemedicine kiosks to more than 120 dorms and temporary quarters to provide migrant workers direct access to medical help and support. More on this topic Related Story Rethinking dorms: Next steps for foreign worker housing in Singapore Related Story Stepping up in a crisis: How migrant workers took on leadership roles during Covid-19

2 12 月, 2020

Singaporeans invited to share their views and hopes for Budget 2021

SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Finance has invited Singaporeans to share their views and hopes for the upcoming Budget, slated to be unveiled in February 2021. They can do so from Wednesday (Dec 2) until January 8, 2021 through various channels. Government feedback unit Reach will have virtual and physical listening points set up at high-traffic areas, while People's Association and its grassroots organisations will also reach out to Singaporeans via virtual engagement platforms such as Ask Kopi Kakis #shareyourviews. Details of the Reach physical Listening points can be found on the Reach Budget 2021 microsite, while details of the Ask Kopi Kakis #shareyourviews engagement can be found at the website. The themes and questions to be covered include the economy, workforce, society and community, a safe and smart nation, as well as environmental sustainability. Here are some of the details: 1. Adapting our way of life to be a safe and Smart Nation Singapore evolved and adapted its strategy to keep Covid-19 under control, and had to step up digital adoption to ensure people remain connected. Besides providing digital access for students from low-income backgrounds, the Seniors Go Digital and Hawkers Go Digital Movement helped those who are less familiar with technology. Questions include: How Singapore can continue to strengthen links with other countries while protecting its people, and how it can encourage and accelerate digital adoption, especially among those who are unfamiliar with the use of technology. 2. Emerging stronger as an economy Singapore remains in a good position to identify and respond to new economic opportunities. For example, it can invest in economic resilience and sustainability as a source of growth and competitive advantage. The Emerging Stronger Taskforce (EST) has been set up to update Singapore's economic roadmap to respond to the new realities. The taskforce has set up Alliances for Action (AfAs) in growth areas such as sustainability, enabling safe and innovative visitor experiences, and facilitating smart commerce. Questions include: How businesses can transform and thrive in a post-Covid-19 world, what help businesses need to access bigger overseas markets such as in Asean, how to build a resilient workforce to support the economy, and how the Government can partner businesses and workers to deliver support schemes better and at larger scale. 3. Emerging stronger as a workforce Covid-19 has accelerated economic transformation and the business environment has become more volatile. Older workers, lower-wage workers and gig workers have been particularly affected. Singapore needs to strengthen support for workers, including softening or lessening the impact of unemployment on the vulnerable. Questions include: How to equip the workforce with the skills to stay relevant, how to build a culture of lifelong learning and constant reskilling in the workforce, how to better support middle-aged workers who may face greater difficulty in acquiring new skills, how the Government, employers, and lower-wage workers can work together to uplift workers' incomes in a meaningful and sustainable way, and how to help gig economy and informal workers save more towards their healthcare and retirement. More on this topic Related Story Work begins on Budget 2021 as DPM Heng briefs President on economic outlook Related Story Singapore will likely see a Budget deficit next year: PM Lee 4. Emerging stronger as a society and community The pandemic has posed greater challenges to the vulnerable groups. At the same time, there has been a deepened sense of solidarity and a greater momentum for giving. If there can be more participation and resources from the community, this will lead to better support for those in need and a more inclusive and resilient society. Questions include: How to encourage stronger partnerships across the Government, businesses and the community to support vulnerable groups more effectively, how to review and improve current schemes to further support families and community in caring for one another, and how to better assist low-income households who still need further help with their cost of living. 5. Building a green and sustainable future There can be collaboration between the Government, community and businesses to make Singapore a liveable city, promote the sustainability agenda, and tackle the effects of climate change. Questions include: New areas where the Government can partner businesses and citizens to improve Singapore's liveability and promote environmental, resource, and climate sustainability; and how the Government can finance green infrastructure and initiatives, while managing costs across the different generations who will benefit. As part of the SG Together Emerging Stronger Conversations, Reach will hold a pre-Budget conversation on Wednesday, chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development Indranee Rajah. She will be joined by the Reach chairman and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of National Development Tan Kiat How. More on this topic Related Story Singapore is turning the corner, but long way to go still in economic recovery: Chan Chun Sing Related Story Job disruption to continue in the new 'never normal'

30 11 月, 2020

When to ease curbs on dorm workers? Experts differ

Nearly three weeks have passed since a Covid-19 case was last reported in foreign worker dormitories, and some health experts say the authorities can consider easing the strict movement restrictions on residents there. They have remained subject to more stringent movement curbs in Singapore, following the rapid and massive outbreak of the virus in dorms that began in end-March. Apart from going to work or to run essential errands, workers are still largely restricted to their dorms, but can visit specified recreation centres on their rest days. Several health experts The Straits Times spoke to noted that the Covid-19 situation in dorms has abated, though they differed on when restrictions on migrant workers should be lifted. Infectious diseases specialist Leong Hoe Nam said the authorities can now consider allowing the workers more freedom to move in the community, given that Singapore crossed the 14-day mark without infections in dorms last Wednesday. The last infection in dorms was reported on Nov 10. There are already many safeguards in place to prevent another outbreak in dormitories, such as routine screening of workers, mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing rules, he said. While it would take 28 days, or two incubation cycles of the virus, to fully ensure that dormitories are free of Covid-19, Dr Leong said this timeline can be shortened because of the extensive measures in place. Even if an infected person goes out into the community, the disease should not spread if everyone abides by the mask-wearing measure and social distancing rules, he added. "With this argument in place, it makes sense for foreign workers to have some normality." Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said workers should be allowed back into the community when Singapore moves to its next phase, as that would mean the whole community is ready for rapid contact tracing and testing. The authorities have said Singapore will enter phase three of its reopening only when about 70 per cent of the population participates in TraceTogether, a technology-enabled contact tracing programme. "With the widespread use of TraceTogether, it is much more possible to halt an outbreak quickly through aggressive contact tracing, testing and quarantining," said Prof Teo. A migrant worker wearing a contact tracing device issued by the authorities. Professor Teo Yik Ying said workers should be allowed back into the community when Singapore moves to its next phase, as that would mean the whole community is ready for rapid contact tracing and testing. ST PHOTO: ZAIHAN MOHAMED YUSOF Dr Ling Li Min, an infectious diseases physician, urged caution, noting that there are "pockets of asymptomatic infections lurking around". This is evident by new cases that emerged after 15 days of no infections in the community, she said. Three such cases have been reported since last Thursday. She added that it is expected that the authorities would take a "steady and gradual approach" in relaxing the strict measures. In response to queries from ST, the Manpower Ministry said it will further ease the restrictions on dorm residents if infection rates are "sustained at low levels". It has also worked with community groups to arrange for organised excursions for residents. Meanwhile, workers said they hope the rules can be relaxed soon. Mr Saddam Mohammad, 27, a Bangladeshi carpenter who stays in a purpose-built dormitory, said his life revolves around work. He said he reports to work almost every day, and he returns to his dormitory straight after. He hopes to be able to venture out again "because I'm very bored in the dorm". But employers ST spoke to said that not all their workers seem keen on heading out, as most are focused on making up for their income loss with overtime work. An owner of a construction company, who gave his name only as Mr Salman, 49, said his foreign workers have been working overtime daily. "While our work has been delayed by six months, the deadline set by our clients remains the same." More on this topic Related Story Steps to better support migrant workers' mental, physical health Related Story Genetic mutations of coronavirus shed light on how infected foreign worker and local pastor are linked Related Stories: Related Story 8 new Covid-19 cases in Singapore; 7 imported and 1 in the community Related Story Infected after holiday to Europe, pregnant S'pore mum gives birth to baby with Covid-19 antibodies Related Story Anger grows at Hong Kong's erratic Covid-19 rules as cases mount Related Story South Korea bans year-end parties, some music lessons, as virus spikes again Related Story More Covid-19 cases may emerge from Seoul Garden dinner but major cluster unlikely Related Story Coronavirus' effect on health may linger; expert warns of more patients with both flu and Covid-19 Related Story Nations firm up on strategies for Covid-19 vaccination Related Story Japan travel campaign sparks debate on links to Covid-19 spread Related Story Can I get infected with Covid-19 from touching a contaminated surface? Related Story Evidence builds that an early mutation made the Covid-19 pandemic harder to stop

4 11 月, 2020

4 in 5 low-wage workers have post-secondary or lower education: Zaqy

There are about 30,000 Singaporean low-wage workers, and the highest educational qualification for four in five of them is post-secondary level or lower, said Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad. For about half of these workers - largely employed in roles such as those of office clerks, food and beverage workers, cleaners and shop salesmen - the highest level is secondary education or lower, he said. More than one-third of the 30,000 low-wage Singaporean workers are aged 50 and above, and this reflects a profile of workers who have less access to higher education and could be at higher risk of being unemployed, he said. Mr Zaqy was responding in Parliament yesterday to a question from Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Bukit Panjang), who asked for the profiles of workers who earn not more than $1,300 monthly. One-third of this group of workers are youth aged between 15 and 24 who are in "vacation jobs", Mr Zaqy said. Earlier, he said that there are about 30,000 full-time employees and 22,000 self-employed individuals who receive less than $1,300 a month, in response to a question filed by Associate Professor Jamus Lim (Sengkang GRC). Mr Zaqy said that about half of the 30,000 Singaporeans live in households with a household per capita income of more than $1,300, which suggests they are not the primary breadwinners for their families. As for what is being done to help this group of workers, Mr Zaqy said that besides receiving Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) payouts, they will continue to be supported by the Workfare Skills Support Scheme. This enables them to upskill and earn higher wages, he said, adding that other schemes are also available for their daily and medical needs. Prof Lim had asked for the number of Singaporeans earning not more than $1,300 a month in take-home pay, excluding employer and employee Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions, as well as other deductions of income. Mr Zaqy said the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) definition of earnings includes contributions of employees to social security and pension schemes. Singapore's approach is broadly aligned with the ILO's, and considers personal income to include CPF contributions and WIS payouts because these can be used for necessities, including healthcare and housing, he said. He said the WIS remains a key pillar of social security for Singaporean lower-wage workers, with studies consistently showing that it has been effective in motivating Singaporeans with lower education levels to enter and stay in the workforce. 1/3 Proportion of Singaporean low-wage workers who are youth aged between 15 and 24 and in "vacation jobs". In the past three years, an average of about 400,000 people a year have received WIS payouts, said Mr Zaqy. The average payout received annually in the same period was about $1,560, while the maximum was $3,600. About half, or 49 per cent, of all WIS recipients are aged 60 and above. In a follow-up question, Ms Carrie Tan (Nee Soon GRC) asked if the age criterion to qualify for WIS - set at a minimum age of 35 - would be revised if the worker is the sole breadwinner in his family. Mr Zaqy said he understood Ms Tan's concerns, but suggested that WIS is targeted at older workers, with about half of the recipients aged 60 and above. For those who are single parents or have other family issues, Mr Zaqy said other government schemes are available, including ComCare or financial assistance schemes in schools.

25 10 月, 2020

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Oct 25

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Oct 25. Malaysia’s King calls for calm ahead of meeting with other royals to discuss emergency move Today's informal session will discuss Malaysia PM Muhyiddin's proposal of emergency measures. READ MORE HERE Over 400,000 TraceTogether tokens collected; 50% participation in digital contact tracing Singapore requires three-quarters of population to participate in digital contact tracing as it prepares for phase 3. READ MORE HERE Workplace convenience, saving phone battery power among reasons for rush for TraceTogether tokens Checking in with the TraceTogether app or token will be mandatory by end-December at all popular venues. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Ex-NUS professor accused of sexual misconduct apologises, files police report Dr Jeremy Fernando said he has filed a police report on a related aspect of the situation. READ MORE HERE More cycling lanes? Learn from PMD experience While more on-road bike lanes are welcome, a lot more effort must go into clarifying rules, public education and promoting good road-usage habits, says associate editor Chua Mui Hoong. READ MORE HERE Sultan of Brunei's son, Prince Azim, dies at 38 The cause of his death was not stated. READ MORE HERE Two workers at Changi T3 among 14 new Covid-19 cases; T3 workers will be tested One is a security officer at T3 and the other is a screener and swab assistant at Raffles Medical. READ MORE HERE New eateries and overseas brands sprout up, including in the CBD Business is picking up with more workers going back to the office. READ MORE HERE The cost of taking care of parents How much is the cost of filial piety in Singapore? READ MORE HERE Pairing unsold food with buyers Mr Lau Jia Cai has some fascinating stories about food wastage. READ MORE HERE

23 10 月, 2020

470,000 Singaporean workers to get $810 million in Workfare Special Payment this month: Finance Ministry

SINGAPORE - Some 470,000 lower-income Singaporean workers who are on the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme will receive $810 million in Workfare Special Payment (WSP) in October, said the Ministry of Finance on Friday (Oct 23). In his ministerial statement on Aug 17, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat had announced that WSP eligibility will be widened to include more than 70,000 additional workers, who will receive the WIS for their work done in 2020, and who are not already receiving the WSP. These lower-income Singaporean workers will receive their October payout of the WSP from Oct 28. Most of them would have qualified for WSP earlier and received their first payment of $1,500 in July for their work done in 2019. They will receive their final payment of $1,500 this month through direct crediting into their bank account on Oct 28, or through a cheque mailed to their residential address by Nov 15. Introduced in 2007, Workfare is a permanent scheme to top up the salaries of lower-income workers and to help them save for their retirement. Since then, $6.8 billion in Workfare payment has been given to about 890,000 recipients. Targeting Singaporean workers whose earnings are in the bottom 20 per cent of the workforce, the WIS is paid in the form of Central Provident Fund top-ups for retirement, as well as cash to supplement earned income. The WIS was enhanced from 2020, with the qualifying income cap raised to $2,300 a month, and the maximum annual WIS payout increased to $4,000 a year. In a Facebook post on Friday, Mr Heng, who is also Finance Minister, wrote that Workfare and the Progressive Wage Model are key policy innovations to uplift lower-income workers. "Through Workfare, the Government supplements their incomes with cash and CPF top-ups to provide for both their immediate and retirement needs," he said. More on this topic Related Story Covid-19 Support Grant extended to December, more eligible for Workfare special payment Related Story New task force to look at how to raise wages of low-income workers He added that more is being done to help lower-income workers during the pandemic. "The Government is committed to helping every Singaporean through this crisis, especially our lower-income workers and the more vulnerable among us," he said. More on this topic Related Story Parliament: New Workfare scheme and other measures to help uplift low-wage workers "We will also work with you to build a better and brighter future for all Singaporeans in a post-Covid world."