Review Restrictions to Facilitate Entry of Non-traditional Source Migrant Workers who Satisfy Necessary Health-related Entry Requirements
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim’s inquiry regarding planned changes to entry restrictions for non-traditional source migrant workers from Category IV countries who satisfy health-related requirements. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng replied that travel restrictions have been lifted for several countries including Bangladesh and India, with entry approvals for key sectors resuming on 1 November 2021. He clarified that workers must generally be fully vaccinated before arrival, although industry-led initiatives allow for entry if vaccination is completed within two months post-arrival. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng added that firms can utilize tightened end-to-end safe management processes to bring in workers urgently under safe conditions. Finally, he noted that any further adjustments to entry restrictions will remain dependent on the evolving nature of the regional COVID-19 situation.
Transcript
30 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Manpower in view of the prevalence of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in Singapore, whether there are any planned changes to the restrictions governing the entry of non-traditional source migrant workers who satisfy the necessary health-related entry requirements such as vaccination and quarantine, especially those from South Asian countries under Category IV of the Ministry’s classification of countries.
Dr Tan See Leng: The Member may be aware that since he filed the question, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has lifted travel restrictions on several non-traditional source countries such as Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, where many of our migrant workers (MWs) in the Construction, Marine Shipyard and Process (CMP) sectors come from.
As I have mentioned in this House on 1 November 2021, we have resumed entry approvals for MWs from CMP sectors to enter Singapore in a safe and calibrated manner from 1 November 2021, on the condition that they must be fully vaccinated before arrival. Firms in the CMP sectors who need their workers urgently may consider on-going initiatives in their industries to bring in workers safely with tightened end-to-end safe management processes. Workers can enter without proof of vaccination provided they complete the full vaccination regime within two months after arrival.
Given the evolving nature of the regional COVID-19 situation, any changes to entry restrictions will depend on the prevailing situation.