[Editor's note on June 4, 10am: A previous version of this article's headline erroneously said 13 employers were fined for breaching safe distancing measures; this has been corrected. Additionally, the Ministry of Manpower amended a portion of their announcement regarding this to say it was employers, not employees, whom they wish to remind that work from home is the default working arrangement. We have edited the quote in the article accordingly.]

More workplaces and businesses are allowed to resume as Singapore enters phase 1 on June 2 after the end of circuit breaker period.

These workplaces and businesses have to ensure Safe Management Measures (SMM) are put in place as employees head back to work.

Island-wide enforcement operations conducted since the start of Phase 1

To ensure a safe workplace, the Ministry of Manpower has carried out island-wide enforcement operations over the past two days.

Three workplaces have to cease operations

The ministry has inspected more than 200 workplaces as of 5pm on June 3, according to its media release.

Of these, three workplaces have been asked to cease operations as the SMM were not adequate.

For example, all employees were asked to return to office instead of enabling employees to continue to work from home.

Apart from the three cases, MOM has also issued 14 composition fines to employers who have breached the SMM requirements.

MOM added employers were given a chance to explain why employees must return to office.

Enforcement actions will only be taken if the employers are unable to justify their actions in order to protect employees.

“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," said Silas Sng, divisional director of the Occupational Safety and Health Division under MOM.

"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.”

Find out more about Safe Management Measures here.

Top photo by MOM