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Relaxed rules will help ease labour crunch: Contractors

They cheer move allowing in more work pass holders, but many fear high costs involved

Construction workers at work on the roof of a walkway last month. Singapore has about 1.3 million foreign workers, of whom some 300,000 work in the construction industry. About 10 per cent to 15 per cent of workers in the sector had returned home ami

Singapore has about 1.3 million foreign workers, of whom some 300,000 work in the construction sector.

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Yuen Sin

A recent move to allow the return of existing work pass holders as well as entry into Singapore for new work pass holders has been cheered by a beleaguered construction sector that has been squeezed by a labour crunch due to tighter border controls amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Singapore Contractors Association Limited (Scal) last Friday welcomed the easing of measures - which kicked in earlier this month - by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

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Construction sector

Coronavirus

Foreign workers

Ministry of Manpower