On 21 April, the Prime Minister announced the extension of circuit breaker to 1 June, as well as the implementation of tighter measures and reduction of businesses that are permitted to operate during the circuit breaker.
MEASURES
- Along with the Prime Minister’s announcement, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce also issued the tightened list of essential services and measures for workplaces which are allowed to open.
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The tightened list excludes the following as essential services that are allowed to operate:
– Manufacture of chocolate and chocolate products; manufacture of chips, crackers and other titbits; manufacture of ice-cream; manufacture of cocoa and chocolate powder from beans; manufacture of non-chocolate confectionery and manufacture of cakes and confectionery)
– F&B outlets that sell beverage, packaged snack, confectionery, dessert stores, as well as all F&B outlets in parks (except on Pulau Ubin)
IMPACT ON FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN
- With the rise of infected cases in the dormitories of foreign workers, the Ministry of Manpower has stopped workers in and out of the dormitories.
- Companies who are affected can submit their appeal against the reduction of foreign workers and appeal for additional manpower with the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
- The reduction of manpower capacity due to restriction of foreign workers’ movement and elderly workers on-site to protect them has reduced the output of production. This has greater impact on facilities that is more labour intensive with lesser automation in place.
- Due to the tightened list, manufacturers have to close production lines for the products that are no longer deemed as essential.