Streamlining of Entry Requirements for Vaccinated New Work Permit Holders in the Construction, Marine Shipyard and Process (CMP) Sectors

The entry requirements for vaccinated¹ new Work Permit holders (WPHs) with in-principle approval (IPA) in the Construction, Marine Shipyard and Process (CMP) sectors will be streamlined with effect from 13 Mar 2022.

The CMP sectors have hitherto been maintaining a steady inflow of workers from various sources through two entry lanes – an industry-led end-to-end process² which is available for workers entering from certain source countries, and the Work Pass Holder General Lane based on prevailing border measures for general entries. While this arrangement has served the industry well, there is scope to streamline the entry requirements as the COVID-19 situation improves. The requirements for each source country will also be based on the COVID-19 situation and other assessments. 

First, the industry-led process will be streamlined into a shorter two-day pre-departure preparatory programme (PDPP) in the source country from 13 Mar 2022. This is followed by a three-day Stay-Home Notice and onboarding at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s Onboard centres³ upon arrival in Singapore, which is the current requirement. This approach retains some of the existing health protocols (e.g. pre-departure testing) under the industry-led process, which succeeded in reducing imported cases even during surges in COVID-19 cases at source countries. The duration of the PDPP may be adjusted, depending on the global COVID-19 situation. For instance, it could be lengthened if new COVID-19 variants of concern (that require tighter border measures) emerge. The PDPP is intended to be the main channel for new CMP WPHs going forward and will enhance the resilience of the CMP sectors. 

Second, from 1 May 2022, each vaccinated new CMP WPH holding an IPA will enter through only one specified lane⁴: 

• New CMP WPHs will be required to undergo the PDPP process where available at their source countries. The PDPP will be available in Bangladesh, India and Myanmar from 13 Mar 2022. 
  
  
• New CMP WPHs entering from source countries where PDPP is not available, will continue to enter Singapore via the Work Pass Holder General Lane where they will be subjected to prevailing border measures and complete an onboarding programme where applicable upon arrival. 

All existing CMP WPHs holding issued work permits will continue to enter Singapore via the Work Pass Holder General Lane. Entry approvals under this lane will be prioritised for them. 

In the interim from 13 Mar to 30 Apr 2022, vaccinated new CMP WPHs holding IPAs from source countries where PDPP is available, can enter via either the PDPP or the Work Pass General Lane. Applications to enter via the PDPP lane will be open from 13 March 2022 through PDPP partners⁵. The Table below summarises the requirements: 

This streamlined process will help the CMP sectors accelerate the entry of necessary workers for ongoing projects, alleviate the labour shortage that the sectors have faced over the past year, while building greater resilience in their workforce. 

¹ Since 1 Nov 2021, all workers from the CMP sectors must be fully vaccinated before arrival into Singapore. 
² The end-to-end process focuses on filtering out C+ cases before arrival into Singapore through proactive testing of the workers during a 7-Day COVID-19 testing regime at specified on-boarding facilities at source countries before departure for Singapore. On arrival, workers will be subject to the prevailing health protocols. To date, the process has brought in over 15,000 CMP workers. 
³ The Onboard centres integrate Stay-Home Notice with enhanced medical examination and Settling-in Programme for migrant workers.  
⁴ Except for Malaysians and female CMP WPHs who are also allowed to enter Singapore via the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) 
⁵ PDPP partners refers to companies / industry associations that have been involved in the industry-led end-to-end process, including BCA approved overseas testing centres.