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No lohei or tuan bai in Singapore workplaces for Chinese New Year 2022

No lohei or tuan bai in Singapore workplaces for Chinese New Year 2022

This ban, reiterated as part of updates by the COVID-19 Multi-Ministry Taskforce on Friday (21 January), is part of the country's efforts to avoid "superspread events" of the virus.

As part of Singapore's prevailing safe management measures, employers and HR should note that company-organised Chinese New Year meals such as lohei, or tuan bai will continue to be disallowed this year.

This ban, reiterated as part of updates by the COVID-19 Multi-Ministry Taskforce on Friday (21 January), is part of the country's efforts to avoid "superspread events" of the virus.

In that vein, here is a quick recap on Singapore's prevailing workplace safe management measures:

  1. Wear masks at all times, except during activities that require masks to be removed.
  2. No social gatherings at the workplace. Employees should have their meal breaks at the workplace individually.
  3. Stagger start times and allow flexible workplace hours: This will spread out staff across time and place, and reduce possible congregation of employees at common spaces at or near the workplace, such as entrances, exits, lobbies, canteens, and pantries.
  4. No cross-deployment across worksites: No employee should work at more than one worksite. If cross-deployment cannot be avoided (e.g. due to the nature of the job), additional safeguards must be taken to minimise the risk of cross-infection.
  5. Use TraceTogether-only SafeEntry to record the entry of all personnel (including employees and visitors) entering the workplace. 
  6. Demarcate safe distances (at least one metre apart) using visual indicators in work areas, meeting rooms, pantries, canteens, etc.
  7. Minimise the need for physical touchpoints: Employers should reduce the occurrences of, or need for common physical touchpoints in the workplace where possible (e.g. contactless access controls). Employers can adopt contactless delivery modes for suppliers or customers where possible.
  8. Clean common spaces regularly and provide disinfecting agents. Common spaces include entrances, lifts lobbies, meeting rooms, pantries as well as shared machinery and equipment should be cleaned in accordance with NEA’s advisory. Employees are encouraged to observe good personal hygiene by washing or sanitizing their hands regularly.
  9. Increase ventilation where possible, in accordance with advisories by NEA or BCA. Employers can increase the mechanical airflow, open windows, or doors to facilitate a higher exchange of air. Employers are also encouraged to measure their carbon dioxide CO2 levels within the premises to keep within NEA’s guidelines of 800 parts per million.

Catch up on the Ministry of Manpower's full requirements for safe management at the workplace, here.

ALSO READ: 7 things to know as Singapore refines its healthcare protocols to ride the Omicron wave (Jan-Feb 2022)


Lead image / 123RF

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