You must ensure that your workers are not under Movement Restriction Orders or Stay-Home Notices (SHN).
Flights are currently limited due to the COVID-19 situation. You should check availability of commercial flights and book early by regularly checking:
Employers are advised to choose airlines that allow flexibility in re-booking of passengers with positive COVID-19 test results, particularly for repatriation of COVID-Recovered PRC workers.
This is because all passengers departing from Singapore for China are required to be tested negative for COVID-19 before boarding, and COVID-Recovered workers may continue to test positive due to shedding of non-viable viral fragments even though they are non-infectious.
COVID-Recovered PRC workers who test positive would hence need to rebook their flights and be re-tested before their rebooked flights.
You should check embassy websites regularly for the latest updates on upcoming relief flights and pre-departure testing requirements.
For relief flights, you will need to register your interest with the embassy.
From 1 December 2020, you don’t need Singapore Government approval for:
- Pre-departure PCR COVID tests
- IgM Antibody Serology tests
Employers should check regularly with the embassies' websites and airlines’ websites for any specific COVID-19-related landing requirements, such as fit-to-fly doctor’s certification or quarantine requirements on arrival.
For countries or regions that require a Pre-Departure Test (PDT) before travellers depart from Singapore, you should contact a clinic listed in SafeTravel to make an appointment for PCR COVID tests or the serology tests.
Employers are responsible for the arrangement of PDT tests as mandated by the embassy of your workers before the flight departure date, in accordance to the testing window as specified by the returning country. All result memos must be obtained from the respective GP clinic before flight departure.
As an employer, you must:
- Pay for all expenses for the PCR COVID tests and IgM Antibody Serology tests.
- Pay directly to the clinic.
After swab appointment
You need to ensure that your worker:
- Has a copy of the test result when checking in at the airport.
- Is not on Movement Restriction Order or Stay-Home Notice on departure day.
Your worker will not be allowed to fly if their test results are inconclusive or positive.
Positive test
Workers who are tested positive for the first time would be subjected to isolation or treatment. You and your worker will be informed on the procedures by the medical professionals. You should:
- Check with the airline for refunds or deferment of your worker’s flight ticket.
- Arrange for another swab test before the next available flight.
Inconclusive results
If your worker has inconclusive results, you should:
- Check with the airlines to schedule the earliest available next flight.
- Re-swab your worker as soon as possible before the rebooked flight.
COVID-recovered workers may continue to be tested positive due to shedding of non-viable viral fragments, even though they are not infectious. COVID-recovered workers who are tested positive would need to rebook their flights and be re-tested before their rebooked flights.
Re-swab procedure for COVID-recovered Work Permit, S Pass and Special Pass holders testing PCR-positive / PCR-inconclusive or IgM-antibody-positive
If your worker is COVID-recovered and had tested PCR positive or inconclusive at the GP clinic prior of the original flight, you should check with the airlines to schedule the next available flight.
| If your COVID-recovered worker tested |
You should |
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PCR-positive / PCR-inconclusive and IgM-antibody-negative at the GP clinic before original flight
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- Work with airlines to schedule the next available flight.
- Register for re-test at RMC.
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PCR-positive / PCR-inconclusive and IgM-antibody-positive at GP clinic before original flight
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- Work with airlines to schedule next flight at least 2 weeks after original flight.
- Register for re-test at RMC.
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IgM-antibody-positive and PCR-negative at GP clinic before original flight
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- Work with airlines to schedule next flight at least 2 weeks after original flight.
- Re-apply for your worker to be re-tested at GP clinic.
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Register for re-swab
To register for a re-swab appointment before the rescheduled flight, you should contact your region’s Managing Agent (MA) according to the testing window as specified by the returning country.
Your worker should bring along all of the following documents (hardcopy or softcopy) to the medical centre:
- Proof of COVID-19 recovery:
- Discharge memo from MOH
OR
- AccessCode “COVID-19 Infection” status showing “Recovered”
- The previous positive or inconclusive test result memo issued by the GP.
- Proof of your worker’s rescheduled flight.
If your worker is staying in any of the following dorms, you should contact the dorm’s on-site medical centre directly instead:
- CDPL Tuas Dorm
- Kranji Lodge 1
- S11 PPT Lodge 1A / 1B
- Sungei Tengah Lodge
- Tuas View Dorm