THE Singapore government is assisting retrenched workers, including Malaysians, whose employers’ businesses have been badly hit by the Covid-19 crisis, according to its Manpower Ministry.

Its minister, Josephine Teo, said her ministry will help link affected workers with prospective employers looking to fill vacancies and have shortages.

Speaking at a press conference by the Multi-Ministry Taskforce on Covid-19, Teo said arrangements have been made should these workers prefer to stay on in Singapore and are looking for a change of employer.

On workers affected by Malaysia’s extended movement control order (MCO), Teo said some have decided to leave Singapore.

The ministry had said previously that the MCO has impacted not only Malaysian work pass holders but also Singaporean citizens, as well as permanent residents who commute daily from Malaysia.

“By now, some of these workers miss home or have other reasons to rejoin their family back in Malaysia,” said the minister.

Teo said some of them intend to come back to Singapore to work in the future.

“For these types of workers, we have worked out with the employers to make available unpaid leave. This arrangement has been ongoing.

“If there is still a requirement for the stay home notice (SHN), then they have to serve that, too,” she said.

SHN requires a person to remain in their place of residence at all times during the 14-day period.

Malaysia had on March 25 extended the MCO period to April 14 from the initial ending date of March 31 to curb the spread of Covid-19. – Bernama, March 31, 2020.