The coronavirus – a respiratory disease caused in China, now officially identified as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus or 2019-nCOV, has spread to more than 25 countries. With an increasing death toll in China and over 20,000 people affected by the virus globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Currently, with 24* confirmed cases in Singapore, these are precautionary measures that employers and employees must adapt.
What EMPLOYEES should do during the LOA period
- a. Remain in your place of residence as much as possible.
- b. Minimise visitors to your residence and maintain records of persons you have come into close contact with during this period.
- c. Avoid attending social gatherings or going to crowded places.
- d. Get assistance from others for your daily necessities or opt for home delivery services.
- e. Monitor your health (i.e. for fever ≥ 38°C and respiratory symptoms such as cough and breathlessness).
- f. Observe good personal hygiene. (Practice washing hands thoroughly before handling food and after using the toilet.)
Employers and employees have a joint duty to ensure that the employee behaves responsibly during the leave of absence.
To ensure that employees avoid the workplace during the LOA period, employers should adopt flexible work arrangements such as getting the employees to work from home.
If working remotely is not possible, employers may consider:
- a. Providing paid LOA over and above their annual leave if your employee was on a business trip to Mainland China.
- b. If the employees are in the Mainland for non-business reasons, you may consider to support them by:
- i. Allowing employees to apply for annual leave
- ii. Treating employees’ leave of absence as sick leave
- iii. Allowing employees to apply for unpaid leave, if they do not have sufficient annual leave
- iv. Other mutually agreed arrangements.
Additionally, the following measures have been introduced to prevent further risks:
- With effect from 31 Jan 2020, all new work pass applications for foreign workers from mainland China will be rejected until further notice. Renewal applications for existing work pass holders will not be affected.
- All returning employees with Hubei travel history within 14 days prior to arrival in Singapore will be quarantined at home or other suitable facilities. Those who were already in Singapore before 28 Jan 2020 will be assessed by MOH and those at higher risk will be quarantined.
Read more on what actions should employers take in Singapore at InCorp Global.
