The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) announced the launch of a new Construction Support Package valued SGD 1.36 billion on 27 June 2020. The buffer will further support firms in the construction sector, help them cope with the impact of COVID-19 and resume work quickly and safely.
“We have worked with the Singapore Contractors Association Ltd (SCAL), the Specialists Trade Alliance of Singapore (STAS) and other trade associations to develop safe distancing measures for the construction sector to minimise the risk of another outbreak among these workers,” said BCA.
The new Construction Support Package includes:
- SGD 525.8 million construction restart booster which will assist firms in procuring additional material/equipment to comply with COVID-safe worksite requirements. The funding will be given to construction projects regardless of whether they have restarted or not, as these compliance costs would eventually be incurred.
- SGD 48 million will be spent on co-funding 50 per cent of the six-month salaries (from September 2020 to February 2021) of Safe Management Officers (SMOs) who are Singaporean citizens or permanent residents. Firms are required to deploy SMOs to ensure safe management measurements at worksites adhere to the standard.
- SGD 793 million will be allocated to co-share prolongation costs for public sector projects. Government Procurement Entities (GPEs) will co-share 50 per cent of the prolongation cost, capped at 1.8 per cent of the contract sum.
– Construction+ Online
Source: Building and Construction Authority