Note: This is an update to our 7 April 2020 Alert.
On 3 April 2020, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) released an advisory to inform contractors that to reduce the risk of further local transmission of COVID-19, all building work (except for essential works) are to cease from 7 April 2020 to 4 May 2020, known as the Circuit Breaker Period.
On Tuesday 7 April 2020, BCA released a circular on:
- One-off advance payment for public sector construction contracts affected by the suspension of activities at workplaces due to COVID-19; and
- The passing down of foreign worker levy rebate to work permit and S Pass holders.
One-Off Advance Payment for Public Sector Construction Contracts
What’s Covered?
As contractors will not receive any progress payment during the Circuit Breaker Period, the circular aims to help contractors manage cash flow.
All government procuring entities (GPEs) will make a one-off advance payment, on an ex-gratia basis, to the main contractors for affected public sector projects during the Circuit Breaker Period.
The Quantum
The amount of advance payment would be computed based on 50 percent of the average monthly amount of certified progress payments in the past three months received by the main contractor. The quantum would depend on the stage of the project and is capped at 2.5 percent of contract sum or $5 million, whichever is lower.
The Process
To claim the advance payment, the main contractor has to submit the list of its first-level subcontractors involved in the works originally scheduled during the Circuit Breaker Period to the GPE. It can be submitted either in the regular progress payment claim or as a standalone payment claim. The payment claim must be submitted between 3 April 2020 and 30 April 2020.
The main contractor must include its commitment and plan to apportion and pass down the advance payment to its subcontractors in the payment claim.
Advance Payment Must Be Passed Down
The main contractor must submit payment responses issued to subcontractors to the GPE within two weeks from the receipt of the payment certificate for the advance payment from the GPE, as proof of passing down the advanced payments to its subcontractors.
The main contractor will also indicate to the GPE the amounts and nature of other payments made during the Circuit Breaker Period, for example, expenses on security or vector control.
If a main contractor fails to pass on the advance payment:
(a) the advance payment will be recovered in full in the next progress payment; and
(b) the main contractor’s performance assessment in the project C41 report may be accorded a “poor” rating by the GPE.
Subcontractors are similarly expected to pass down a portion of the advance payment received from the main contractor to the relevant subcontractors whom they engage.
As both main contractors and first level subcontractors in public sector projects are required to be registered in BCA’s Contractors Registration System (CRS), BCA may review the CRS registration of the defaulting contractor should BCA receive feedback on the contractor failing to pass down the advance payment received.
Passing Down of Foreign Worker Levy Rebates to Work Permit and S Pass Holders
With a similar purpose in mind, firms are also expected to pass down foreign worker levy rebates received.
On 6 April 2020, the Singapore government announced that employers will receive a foreign worker levy rebate of $S750 for each work permit or S Pass holder. The levy rebate is to help firms continue paying their foreign employees during the Circuit Breaker Period.
Contractors are then expected to be responsible for their foreign employees and work out mutually agreeable salary and leave arrangements with unions and employees during the Circuit Breaker Period.
Irresponsible employers who do not pay salaries to their foreign workers despite receiving the levy rebates will face enforcement actions by Ministry of Manpower or other actions by BCA.
The advance payment and the passing down obligations are intended to benefit stakeholders in the construction industry and maintain cash flow.