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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced earlier today (Aug. 29) that female Muslim staff in Singapore’s public healthcare sector, including nurses, can wear the tudung as an add-on to their uniforms starting Nov. 1, 2021.

Will benefit over 7,000 female Muslim staff

In a press release by the Ministry of Health (MOH), it is said that the revised policy will benefit more than 7,000 female Muslim staff across the public healthcare sector.

This includes staff working for public healthcare clusters such as SingHealth, National Healthcare Group, National University Health System, Health Promotion Board, Health Sciences Authority, Vanguard Healthcare, and MOH Holdings.

“Extensive consultation” conducted to prepare guidelines

The dress code will be based on a set of implementation and clinical guidelines developed by the MOH-appointed Implementation Steering Committee (ISC) and Clinical Advisory Panel (CAP).

MOH said that the committees conducted “extensive consultation” from April to August this year to prepare the guidelines.

They had consulted infectious disease experts, nursing leaders, Muslim community leaders, healthcare workers and others across various professions and religious backgrounds.

Through the extensive consultation, the guidelines took “careful and serious considerations” to take into account the desire of female Muslim healthcare workers to wear the tudung, safeguard and uphold impartiality of care, occupational safety and health of staff, patient care standards and infection control requirements, such as when a personal tudung or long sleeves may or may not be worn.

The committees comprise representatives across the public, community care and private healthcare sectors, the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union (HSEU), the Muslim Healthcare Professional Association (MHPA), and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS).

Non-public entities encouraged to take reference

According to MOH, non-public entities, such as community care organisations and private healthcare providers, are encouraged to take reference from the revised uniform policy in the public healthcare sector and consider their “organisational context” before making a decision.

The institutions that decide to allow staff to wear the tudung should align with the clinical guidelines on wearing the tudung as part of infection prevention and occupational safety best practices.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) also said in a statement that private sector healthcare employers are encouraged to take reference, but it is not compulsory to follow it:

"Private sector employers should continue to establish uniforms or dress code requirements that are suited to the nature of their work, or for operational and safety reasons.

Where such requirements do not allow for religious attire or artefacts, employers must communicate and explain the reason clearly to employees and job applicants."

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Top image from Singapore General Hospital/FB.