Employees who May Require Regular Testing under New “Vaccinate or Regular Test” Regime

Mr Alex Yam asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the estimated number of employees who are likely to require regular testing under the new "Vaccinate or Regular Test" regime; (b) who will bear the costs of the twice weekly antigen rapid test; and (c) whether there will be any legal protection afforded to employers or employees in the event of a disagreement on the apportionment of costs for such testing and, if so, what are these protections.

Under the Vaccinate or Regular Test (VoRT) regime, unvaccinated employees will need to undergo more frequent testing compared to vaccinated employees. This would help pick up possible infections so that they can be treated early and mitigate the risk of transmission to their colleagues and the public. As at 8 September 2021, about 90% of our workforce has already completed the full vaccination regime and we encourage medically eligible employees who are not vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.

Under the VoRT regime, medically eligible but unvaccinated employees may be required by their employers to pay for any antigen rapid test that is in addition to that required for vaccinated employees, if any.

Employers are encouraged to engage employees on the importance of being vaccinated and clarify the cost arrangements for test kits for those who are medically eligible but not vaccinated. In the event of a dispute, employers and employees are advised to approach MOM for advice and assistance. The Member may also refer to the Advisory on COVID-19 Vaccination at the Workplace, which was issued by the tripartite partners on 23 August for more details on how companies can implement the VoRT regime.