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COVID-19 Article
8 August 2022 |
The Great Return (to the office)
Employers joining the fight against the scourge of COVID-19 in the past years have had to incessantly adapt their workplaces to keep their employees healthy and themselves safe from strict government guidelines. The virus, which was first vilified for driving employees out of their offices and blurring the lines between the workplace and home, has now become the unwitting catalyst for the revolution of remote work as employees came to a moment of great epiphany - they liked working from home. This article discusses whether employees can be compelled by their employers to return to the office. |
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COVID-19 Article
16 April 2021 |
Home on the range … and work in the city?: Legal issues with remote working in the post-pandemic era
The past year has been an inflection point for employers and employees alike, with both realizing that a fair proportion of jobs can be done outside the traditional office. The next logical question is whether one can extend this further and work from anywhere in the world, including tropical beachfronts or pastoral ranges. This article discusses some legal issues to be considered before allowing employees to go forth and spread out across the globe. |
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COVID-19 Article
17 November 2020 |
Employment during a pandemic – Working remotely or remotely working?
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that the traditional office space may be on its last legs, with remote working a strong contender for the workplace of the future. As is often the case with new trends, this presents both opportunities and pitfalls for employers. This article considers some issues that may arise from this sea change, and how employers can best position themselves to ride the wave of opportunity instead of being swamped by it. |
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COVID-19 Article
06 November 2020 |
Re-Align Framework aimed at giving businesses breathing space in light of Covid-19
The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment No. 3) Act 2020 introduces a targeted legislative framework to assist businesses that have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 to renegotiate specific types of contracts with their counter parties. This update discusses the eligibility criteria and the process under the Re-Align Framework. |
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COVID-19 Article
03 September 2020 |
Supporting companies and businesses as they go digital in light of COVID-19
In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies and businesses are going digital and many have done so. However, this is not without any challenge. This updates summarises the various events run by various government agencies, as well as the schemes and funding support which companies and businesses can tap on as they take the plunge. |
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COVID-19 Article
18 August 2020 |
Additional measures to support the Singapore economy in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
In a ministerial statement on 17 August 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat revealed a slate of measures targeted at sustaining various sectors and keeping jobs. This update discusses some of these measures which we will see implemented in the coming weeks. |
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COVID-19 Article
17 August 2020 |
Rental relief framework under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 and the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Rental and Related Measures) Regulations 2020
The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment) Act 2020 passed in Parliament on 5 June 2020 provides a rental relief framework for Small and Medium Enterprises and specified non-profit organisations. The rental relief framework provides for inter alia mandated equitable co-sharing of rental obligations between the Government, landlords and tenants. This article gives an overview of the rental relief framework as at the date of publication. |
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COVID-19 Article
17 August 2020 |
A sign of relief: Extended COVID-19 relief from 31 July 2020
On 31 July 2020, the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Temporary relief for inability to perform contracts) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2020 came into operation. This piece of subsidiary legislation enhances the existing protections for businesses and individuals who are unable to perform their contractual obligations due to COVID-19. Our update discusses the new categories of relief extended by the new legislation. |
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COVID-19 Article
24 July 2020
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CCCS provides guidance on its approach to collaborations between competitors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
We are pleased to enclose our Legal Update on the guidance note by the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) issued on 20 July 2020, setting out the CCCS’s approach to collaborations between competitors in relation to the supply of essential goods or services in Singapore (COVID-19 Guidance Note). |
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COVID-19 Webinar
9 June 2020
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Picking up the pieces – How to survive & thrive in the Covid-19 aftermath (Video Clip)
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COVID-19 Webinar
5 June 2020
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A Chat on Competition Law Developments and the COVID-19 Situation in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore (Video Clip)
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COVID-19 Webinar
4 June 2020
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Make lemonade out of lemons: Looking at legal claims as opportunities in a Covid-19 world (Video Clip)
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COVID-19 Article
2 June 2020
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Ending employment during COVID-19: A new normal?
In these uncertain times, companies may be faced with the difficult decision of letting go of some of their workers to manage costs. This legal update discusses the different ways the employee-employer relationship can be ended, as well as recent pronouncements by the Ministry of Manpower on the issue of retrenchment and managing manpower issues and their interaction with employment law in Singapore. |
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COVID-19 Article
24 April 2020 |
Liquidated damages in the era of the COVID-19 Act: Time out only…
The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 puts in place a temporary moratorium over enforcement of contractual rights. What does this time-out mean for contracting parties faced with a potential claim for liquidated damages, and how can businesses make the most of this reprieve? |
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COVID-19 Article
20 April 2020 |
Cash Flow Support for Individuals and SMEs – Help from the MAS during the COVID-19 pandemic
On 31 March 2020, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, together with the Association of Banks in Singapore, the Life Insurance Association, the General Insurance Association, and the Finance Houses Association of Singapore announced a package of financial measures to help individuals and small medium enterprises manage their cash flows and meet their financial obligations in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article aims to discuss the measures introduced. |
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COVID-19 Article
17 April 2020
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Alternative arrangements for meetings during COVID-19
On 13 April 2020, alternative meeting arrangements were prescribed for meetings where personal attendance is provided for in written law or certain legal instruments. On the same day, the MAS, ACRA and SGX Regco have also issued a checklist to guide listed and non-listed entities on the conduct of general meetings during the period when elevated sage distancing measures are in place. This legal update examines the alternative meeting arrangements applicable to companies with a focus on listed issuers. |
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COVID-19 Article
14 April 2020 |
DNA Bulletin: Responding to COVID-19 - Key measures implemented in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore to support businesses
The current COVID-19 pandemic has impacted businesses around the world. Closer to home, the governments of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore have taken urgent action to support businesses, and to assist them in transforming their operations. A number of measures are highlighted in the bulletin, as well as developments arising from these measures. |
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COVID-19 Article
9 April 2020
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Singapore COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020
On 7 April 2020, the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 (the COVID-19 Act) was passed by the Singapore Parliament. We set out the policy considerations underpinning the COVID-19 Act, as well as further details on the operation of the COVID-19 Act. We also discuss how businesses may determine whether they meet the criteria for temporary relief. |
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COVID-19 Article
7 April 2020 |
Understanding the Circuit Breaker
On 3 April 2020, the Singapore government announced significantly stricter measures in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in Singapore. Referred to as a “circuit breaker”, the measures will affect a host of businesses and employees. |
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COVID-19 Article
7 April 2020 |
Retaining employees and managing manpower due to COVID-19 in Singapore
On 30 March 2020, the National Wages Council issued its 2020/2021 Guidelines calling on employers to sustain businesses and save jobs. This update sets out the Government support, as at 6 April 2020, to help employers retain their local employees, and the measures that employers can consider to manage excess manpower due to the COVID-19 situation. |
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COVID-19 Article
6 April 2020 |
COVID-19 Global Pandemic – Measures to aid with credit for businesses and SMEs
This update highlights the key financing schemes, which are administered by Enterprise Singapore and the recent enhancements arising from the Covid-19 situation which businesses and/or small and medium enterprises (“SMEs”) can leverage on, as well as some other measures recently announced by the Government to address the cash flow and credit concerns of SMEs to help sustain their businesses in this uncertain climate. |
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COVID-19 Article
3 April 2020 |
Legal Obligations and COVID-19 – Temporary Relief and Measures
To complement the financial measures announced by the Government in the Resilience Budget, the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill (“Bill”) is intended to be introduced at the next sitting of Parliament. This update serves to highlight and elaborate on the temporary measures provided by the new Bill concerning COVID-19. |
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COVID-19 Article
3 April 2020 |
The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill and its impact on the construction industry in Singapore
A new Bill seeking to “stanch the flow of blood” and offer temporary relief to firms, businesses and individuals who are unable to fulfil their contractual obligations because of COVID-19, will be introduced in Parliament next week. Directors Christopher Chong and Kelvin Teo set out some preliminary thoughts on the Bill and on matters that Employers and Contractors may wish to consider. |
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COVID-19 Article
2 April 2020 |
Update on the holding of meetings
This article highlights key guidelines from various government authorities to help entities understand the measures they should take when conducting meetings to stay safe and comply with government regulations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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COVID-19 Article
1 April 2020 |
New bill to be passed in Parliament next week expected to give relief in light of COVID-19
A new Bill targeted to provide companies and individuals temporary relief from their contractual obligations in light of COVID-19 will be introduced in Parliament next week. This update discusses what we can expect from the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill. |
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COVID-19 Article
27 March 2020 |
Govt steps in to provide relief from contractual obligations in light of COVID-19
This update highlights the Government’s intervention in what are essentially private agreements between individuals and entities, and suggests that there may be difficulties for a party in attempting to rely on force majeure clauses or the doctrine of frustration in trying to suspend contractual obligations or discharge the contract in its entirety. |
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COVID-19 Webinar
25 March 2020 |
After the deal – Post M&A disputes and how to avoid them (Video Clip) |
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COVID-19 Article
4 March 2020 |
Extension of time for issuers with a 31 December financial year-end to hold annual general meetings
The Singapore Exchange Regulation has announced that it will grant a time extension of up till 30 June 2020 (“Waiver”) for issuers, which fulfill certain criteria to hold their annual general meetings to approve their 31 December 2019 financial results. This legal update sets out, inter alia, the eligibility criteria and the application process for the grant of a Waiver. |
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COVID-19 Article
3 March 2020 |
COVID-19 – Frustration, force majeure or simply frustrating?
Repercussions from the COVID-19 situation on the commercial sector have been felt from the rising caution exercised by governments and the public at large. Businesses are looking to their contracts and agreements to find ways to escape liability for non-performance. This update provides some insights into the question - is COVID-19 a ‘force majeure’ event, a frustrating event, or simply frustrating? |
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COVID-19 Webinar
21 February 2020 |
Overview of the Infectious Diseases Act – Government Powers and Individual Obligations (Video Clip)
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COVID-19 Webinar
21 February 2020 |
Hoaxes and Baseless Rumours (POFMA) – examining potential criminal and civil liabilities and reliefs relating to the spread of fake news and false rumours (Video Clip) |
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COVID-19 Webinar
21 February 2020 |
Employer's Obligations (Video Clip) |
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COVID-19 Webinar
21 February 2020 |
Occupier's Liability - examining the role and obligations of building owners, landlords, tenants etc. (Video Clip) |
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COVID-19 Webinar
21 February 2020 |
Understanding your contractual rights & obligations (Video Clip) |
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COVID-19 Article
13 February 2020 |
2019-nCoV (COVID-19) – FAQ on hot topics under PDPA and Employment Laws
As a result of additional control measures towards the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, we have received some queries as to how data protection and employment laws apply in relation to the collection of personal data from visitors and employees. To address some of the more common issues, we have prepared a set of FAQs to clarify how the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 and employment law may be applicable. |
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COVID-19 Article
13 February 2020 |
Extension of Time for Certain Issuers to Hold Annual General Meetings to Approve 31 December 2019 Financial Results in Light of COVID-19
The Singapore Exchange Regulation has announced that it will grant a time extension of up till 30 June 2020 (“Waiver”) for issuers which fulfill certain criteria to hold their annual general meetings to approve their 31 December 2019 financial results. This legal update sets out, inter alia, the eligibility criteria and the application process for the grant of a Waiver. |