Singapore further updates guideline on Covid-19 vaccination in the workplace

All unvaccinated employees will not be allowed to return to workplaces unless they have a negative Covid-19 test result, and the result must be valid during those hours that the employee will be at their workplaces. Employees will generally be required to bear the cost of the test cost.

Employers are requested to give special consideration to employees who are pregnant or medically ineligible for the vaccine.

For employees who fall within these two categories, employers should consider allowing them toto work from home if they are able to do so, and their absence from the workplace should not affect their performance assessment. Employers may alternatively redeploy the employees to suitable jobs which can be done at home and pay a salary in line with the responsibilities of the alternative job.

Employers may allow their unvaccinated employees whose work can be done at home to continue to work from home. For employees whose work cannot be done at home, employers can either allow them to continue in their existing job and take their PET test outside of working hours; redeploy these employees to suitable jobs which can be done from home if such jobs are available and pay a salary in line with the responsibilities of the alternative job.

Employers can also place these employees on no-pay leave or terminate the employment of these individuals with the proper notice period. If such termination of employment is due to the employee’s inability to be at the workplace to perform their contracted work, such termination will not be considered as wrongful dismissal.

All employers may ask employees for their vaccination status and require them to produce proof of vaccination before going to the workplace. Employees who refuse to do so can be treated as unvaccinated.

Employers should facilitate vaccination by granting employees paid time-off for their vaccination and paid sick leave in the event that the employee experiences a vaccine-related adverse reaction.

Mayumi Soh of Pinsent Masons MPillay, the Singapore joint law venture between MPillay and Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law, said: “Employers should take note of the updated advisory on how to manage unvaccinated employees who are unable to be physically present at the workplace. The tripartite partners have also urged employers to check their company’s vaccination rate and if they have not attained 100% vaccine coverage for their employees, to encourage them to do so.”