Unvaccinated workers not allowed back to the workplace in Singapore

With effect from January 1 next year, only workers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered from the disease within the past 270 days will be allowed to return to their workplaces. 

Those who are unvaccinated will only be allowed back to the workplace if they have tested negative for COVID-19, and the cost of these tests will be borne by the employees themselves, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). 

These also include employees who are pregnant, or are medically not eligible to receive vaccinations. 

The tests have to be administered at MOH-approved providers and must be valid for the duration at which they are required to be present at their workplaces. Negative antigen rapid test results are valid only for 24 hours.

“Tripartite partners have agreed on special considerations that employers should grant to these groups, such as allowing work from home without affecting performance and coming to a reasonable agreement on cost-sharing of the tests,” MOH added. 

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“For individuals who are medically ineligible for the national vaccination programme, we will give special concession for them to enter premises or participate in activities where the vaccination-differentiated safe management systems are required, such as shopping malls, attractions, hawker centres and coffee shops, starting from November 1, 2021,” said co-chair of the COVID-19 task force Gan Kim Yong at a press conference.