Doing business without new foreign workers could become the new normal

More aggressive strategy will be needed to drive changes in sectors and companies, says Singapore National Employers Federation

Annabeth Leow

Published Mon, May 25, 2020 · 09:50 PM

Covid-19

Singapore

SINGAPORE has tried both the carrot and the stick to wean companies off over-reliance on foreign labour, but the novel coronavirus might just be the final straw for employers.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) put a de facto freeze on new work passes in mid-March - before a two-month circuit breaker shuttered many businesses - and there is no word yet on whether the halt will lift when the quasi-lockdown ends in early June.

In line with tighter entry…