We refer to the article, "Construction firms expect latest Covid-19 curbs by MOM to further delay projects" (Dec 7), on the cessation of vaccinated travel lanes (VTLs) for construction, marine and process (CMP) and other dormitory-bound workers.

The measures are necessary to ensure the safe inflow of workers while minimising importation risk. They allow us to ensure that workers can be safely brought in and onboarded, before entering our dormitories and worksites, which are higher-risk settings. This also reduces potential business disruptions should workers subsequently test positive for Covid-19.

There already exist two other viable and safe entry lanes for CMP migrant workers, which were in place well before VTLs were introduced.

Firms can approach the industry associations to bring in workers via industry-led initiatives. These have tightened end-to-end processes in place to facilitate the safe entry of workers, such as upstream testing and isolation in the source country.

Firms can be assured that workers under these initiatives can enter Singapore safely to meet the manpower demands for their projects. The trade associations are working closely with government agencies to ramp up the entry of workers via these initiatives.

In addition, firms can continue to bring in vaccinated CMP migrant workers via the Work Pass Holder General Lane. This lane requires workers to serve stay-home notice on arrival if necessary, based on prevailing border measures.

The entry of workers via these lanes is currently two times higher than at the beginning of this year. This has contributed to a net increase in the number of CMP migrant workers in recent weeks.

We will continue to work with firms to bring in more workers safely to meet the needs of the industry and key ongoing projects, such as HDB's Build-To-Order projects, in the coming months.

However, we would also like to encourage construction firms to take this opportunity to transform, and reduce reliance on migrant workers. There are available incentives such as the Building and Construction Authority's Construction Productivity and Capability Fund and Productivity Solutions Grant that firms can tap to improve their productivity, and emerge stronger from the pandemic.

Sharon Chang

Director

Controls, Compliance and Levy

Ministry of Manpower

Ivan Lim

Director

Manpower Planning Department

Building and Construction Authority