The latest announcement comes a day after the Ministry of Manpower said all dormitories, with the exception of 17 blocks in six purpose-built dormitories that serve as quarantine facilities, have been cleared of the coronavirus.
The rule aimed to reduce the risk of infection when workers from different dorms interacted on sites and to minimise the number of dorms affected if a Covid-19 case surfaced. It added:"Contractors should take into account the larger number of workers on site and enforce strict zoning of their workforce, and ensure that workers residing in different accommodation or performing different activities do not intermingle on site."Meanwhile, the BCA, the MOM, the Economic Development Board and other agencies are working to re-organise worker accommodation so that those in the same company live at the same address.
Maybank Kim Eng senior economist Chua Hak Bin felt, however, that recovery in the sector will likely be slow despite the relaxation of rules, given the approvals required for major construction sites.