Remember just before CB ended on 1 June, the authorities warned employers about getting people to stop working from home?
Well, they’ve started making good on their promises.
MOM Spot-Checked & Closed Down 3 Workplaces As They Got Everyone to Come Back When They Can WFH
Over the past two days, the Ministry of Manpower (MOH) has sent officers out across the island to inspect many workplaces.
How many?
More than 200 workplaces by 5pm on 3 June, according to their Facebook post.
In total, they’ve issued 14 composition fines and forced three companies to close down.
The three workplaces have not put in place “adequate Safe Management Measures (SMM)” and made all of their employees come back to the office to work instead of arranging them to continue working from home.
Default Mode Is Working From Home (WFH)
The Circuit Breaker might have ended but during Phase One, the default mode of working must still be WFH.
“It is understandable that some employers may be eager to bring their employees back to work in the office after two months of circuit breaker. However, we would like to remind employers that working from home must remain the default working arrangement for employees who are able to do so,” said Mr Silas Sng, Divisional Director, Occupational Safety and Health Division, Ministry of Manpower
Any employers who are found getting workers who can work from home back into the office will have enforcement actions taken against them.
And it’s not just MOM raids that companies are worried about.
Some Employers Are Allegedly Calling Their Staff Back to the Office During Phase One Despite WFH is the Default Option
On 1 Jun 2020, several employees complained about being made to go back to the office.
A receptionist who is 7 months’ pregnant and a mother of two was asked to go back to the office.
As calls from the main office have been diverted to her home, she sees no reason why she couldn’t continue to work from home.
She told her boss and the company’s HR that they could be breaking the law but they insisted.
Angered, she reported the company to MOM via email and her case is currently pending the outcome.
For any complaints MOM receives about employees being made to go back to the office, they will investigate thoroughly.
That doesn’t mean employees can anyhowly report their companies, though.
The companies will be given a chance to explain the reason for their decision. If it’s not good enough, they will be punished.
Here’s MOM’s guideline on who needs to continue working from home:
“Those who have been working from home so far should continue to do so, and employees should go to the office only where it is demonstrably necessary, e.g. to access specialised systems/equipment that cannot be accessed from home, or to fulfil legal requirements (e.g. to complete contracts or transactions).”
And no, a lack of productivity from any employee isn’t a good enough reason to call them in.
You can view MOM’s full post here.
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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