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Employer advisory: How to host work-related events in Singapore, effective 3 Jan 2022

Employer advisory: How to host work-related events in Singapore, effective 3 Jan 2022

Larger work-related events (WREs) of between 51 and 1,000 participants are now allowed, an increase from the previous cap of 50 participants.

From 3 January 2022, Singapore's Multi Ministry Taskforce (MTF) has allowed larger work-related events (WREs) of between 51 and 1,000 participants. This includes corporate & board retreats, staff training, or annual general meetings (AGMs).

This is an increase from the previous cap of 50 participants, with any meals being incidental.

Companies who are looking to organise WREs (more than 50 participants, limited to 1,000), must take note of the following conditions:

  • The event is mask-on only. In particular, there must be no consumption of meals or beverages.
  • Participants are predominantly static (seated or standing in a fixed position).
  • Participants are subjected to vaccination-differentiated safe management measures.
  • Participants maintain at least one-metre safe distance between one another and must be in zones of up to 100 persons per zone, with two metres between zones.

Organisers of such larger WREs (more than 50 participants) will have to notify the authorities via an online form.

"This change will give businesses more flexibility to organise WREs, such as an employee townhall or awards ceremony," MTF said.

"The authorities will perform spot-checks for such WREs and enforcement actions will be taken against businesses who flout the rules".

For WREs with 50 and/or fewer participants, organisers are not required to notify or seek approval from the authorities. However, it should be noted that:

  • Participants must maintain at least one-metre safe distance between one another.
  • Meals should not be the main feature of the event, i.e. they should only be served if incidental to the workplace event. The food must be served individually with the participants seated while consuming. Participants should minimise the time that they are unmasked while eating.
  • Work-related events held at third-party venues will also be subject to any additional safe management policies by the premises' owner.

As for those who are looking at MICE events (more than 50 participants) such as large-scale meetings, conferences, trade shows, and exhibitions where more interactions between participants are expected, they will have to seek approval from MTI - with the same form as above - before they can proceed per existing requirements.

Further, organisers are to note the following conditions:

  • Safety management measures (SMMs) must be adhered to, including maintaining at least one-metre safe distance between one another.
  • Participants must be in zones of up to 100 persons per zone, with two metres between zones.
  • Meals must not be the main feature of the event. When F&B is served, participants must be at least one metre apart and the number of participants in each group for meal must not exceed five. Participants must remain at the same table where a meal is consumed throughout the meal duration.
  • All participants must be subject to vaccination-differentiated safe management measures; i.e. every participant must be fully vaccinated, recovered from COVID-19 within the past 180 days, or medically ineligible for vaccines under the National Vaccination Programme.

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