Working from home may be the new normal in virus-wary Singapore, especially for foreign workers instructed to semi-quarantine amid the COVID-19 outbreak. But that doesn鈥檛 mean they can go gallivanting about, at least not on a surveillance-happy island.聽
The this week fired a warning shot at any foreign worker who might be breaching rules requiring foreigners on work visas who visited China in the last 14 days to mostly stay home as part of containment efforts.聽
Those under mandatory semi-quarantine are not allowed outside their places of residence for too long and should remain contactable by the ministry. However, two foreign workers were busted in the past two weeks for breaching the rules of what鈥檚 euphemistically called a 鈥淟eave of Absence,鈥 with one permanently banned from working in Singapore after he was caught visiting a casino. The other received a 鈥渟tern warning鈥 for leaving home too long for a meal.
鈥淸The ministry] has been conducting regular checks through physical inspections, telephone and video calls as part of ongoing efforts to ensure that work pass holders on mandatory [Leave of Absence] abide by the requirements,鈥 Monday’s statement read.
鈥淥f the 10 work pass holders, six had their work passes revoked,鈥 it added. Three of the remaining five foreigners did not respond to multiple calls from the ministry.聽
The ministry did not reveal how the other two had breached semi-quarantine requirements.聽
The ministry also gave 鈥渟tern鈥 warnings to three employees who were told by their employers to work while on semi-quarantine.聽
Three companies, freight forwarding firm Element Logistics, architecture firm SCDA Design, and manufacturing firm Cham Brother Engineering may not be allowed to hire foreigners to work for them in Singapore over the next three years.聽
Two weeks ago, the ministry on Feb. 9 it had repatriated four foreign workers and banned them from working in Singapore after the workers had breached the semi-quarantine requirements.聽
Related:
COVID-19: Here鈥檚 every coronavirus infection in Singapore on a map
Southeast Asia isolates virus-stricken South Korea as pandemic fears mount
