New Onboarding Centre with SHN for Migrant Workers Could Help S’pore Prepare for Disease X

Previously, Singapore’s very own PM Lee said that even after COVID-19 is over, some of the measures won’t disappear.

That’s because you can expect another global pandemic like this to happen again.

In fact, the worst of them all, Disease X, might happen here too.

And now, in Mar 2021, we see one of Mr Lee’s proclamation come true.

New Onboarding Centre with SHN for Migrant Workers Could Help S’pore Prepare for Disease X

Since 15 Mar 2021, all work permit and S Pass holders in the construction, marine and process (CMP) sectors arriving from higher-risk countries has to serve the majority of their quarantine at migrant worker onboarding centres (MWOC).

Currently, there are four new centres located in Punggol, Tengah and Eunos.

Another one will be set up in Choa Chu Kang and all five centres combined will have up to 7,000 bed spaces.

How It Works

Before the change, foreign workers in the CMP sectors would have to serve a 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) in dedicated facilities and another seven days in a separate isolation compound.

With the MWOC, however, they’ll complete 10 days of their SHN and the additional 7-day isolated in the same place.

During their stay, they’ll get a more detailed medical checkup, which can identify pre-existing chronic illnesses or mental health conditions earlier.

They’ll also go through a “more comprehensive” orientation programme.

This includes e-learning modules in their native languages which teach topics such as infection control and worker’s rights.

During this period, they’re confined to their own cohort and will not be able to mingle with other cohorts.

The Goal

According to Second Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng, the goal is for these MWOCs to be a “permanent fixture” in Singapore.

In fact, they’re looking at moving parts of the process like basic health screening to the workers’ home countries.

In addition, they’re hoping to develop “one to two centralised facilities” for those that fly in and those that came in from land.

“Should ‘Disease X’ come – and it’s not a question of ‘if’, it’s a question of ‘when’ – a centre like this will enable us to react a lot faster and intervene at a significantly higher level.”

Cheaper Than Current SHN Measures

To date, the MWOCs have received about 1,000 workers.

Employers pay up to S$2,400 for each worker’s stay.

While hefty, it’s S$300 cheaper compared to previous quarantine arrangements.

According to an employer who has two workers in the MWOCs, the new centres allow them to free up resources.

In the past, a production manager, a foreman and an HR employee have to be taken off their roles to handle this issue.

It was also predicted that the centres would help ease manpower shortage in sectors.

“We can bring in workers in a safer manner and minimise the risk of Covid-19 spreading to the community so that more workers can enter Singapore faster.” – Singapore Contractors Association president Ng Yek Meng

For those interested, you can find out more about Disease X here.

Feature Image: AhXiong / Shutterstock.com