# Further Extension of Relief Periods under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act for Relevant Contracts in the Built Environment Sector.

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2021-09-29T07:30:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/further-extension-of-relief-periods-under-the-covid-19-(temporary-measures)-act-for-relevant-contracts-in-the-built-environment-sector
- **Topics:** Government & Policy

## Featured rationale

The extension could ease contractual and cost pressures caused by labour shortages and project delays, supporting construction continuity while parties negotiate longer-term arrangements.

## AI summary

COVID-19 relief periods under Parts 2, 8B and 10A for built-environment contracts were extended three months to 31 December 2021.

## Original article

The Built Environment (“BE”) sector has been adversely impacted by COVID-19. In response, the Government has intervened in an unprecedented way, including providing significant financial assistance through a $1.36 billion construction support package, manpower support, and legislative relief through the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act (the “Act”). Our objective is to ensure that no single segment of the BE value chain bears a disproportionate share of the burden due to COVID-19. 

Part 2 of the Act provides temporary relief for a prescribed period, upon service of a Notification for Relief, from stipulated types of legal and enforcement actions in relation to the inability to perform contractual obligations due to COVID-19. Part 8B of the Act requires the co-sharing of additional non-manpower qualifying costs between contracting parties due to delays caused by COVID-19. Part 10A of the Act provides a relief framework to allow contractors to seek a determination from an Assessor to adjust the contract sum to address the increase in foreign manpower salary costs, i.e. salary costs of Work Permit Holders (WPHs), due to COVID-19. 

The Government had previously announced that the prescribed periods for legislative relief (“relief periods”) related to the BE sector under Part 2, Part 8B and Part 10A of the Act would end on 30 September 2021. 

However, as we navigate towards becoming a COVID-resilient nation, challenges for firms in the BE sector persist. Labour cost has increased due to restrictions in the inflow of migrant workers. Projects are facing delays due to manpower tightness. In this regard, we will extend the temporary legislative relief related to the BE sector to help firms tide through this period.

The Government will extend the relief periods under Part 2, Part 8B and Part 10A of the Act for an additional three months, up to 31 December 2021, in the following manner:

a) Extension of relief period under Part 2 of the Act

Construction firms affected by COVID-19 can seek temporary relief from legal and enforcement action for construction contracts or supply contracts, or any performance bond granted thereto, by serving a Notification for Relief by 31 December 2021 on their contracting parties.

During this period, parties are encouraged to negotiate and resolve their differences in an amicable and mutually beneficial manner. If an agreement cannot be reached and there is a dispute as to whether the relief triggered by the Notification for Relief applies, either party may submit an application for an Assessor’s determination up to two months after the end of the relief period, i.e. latest by 28 February 2022. 

b) Extension of relief period under Part 8B of the Act

Cost-sharing relief under Part 8B applies to non-manpower qualifying costs, which arise due to delays caused by COVID-19 during the period from 7 April 2020 to 31 December 2021. 

c) Extension of relief period under Part 10A of the Act

Contractors should negotiate with their clients to reach a mutually agreeable arrangement to address the increase in foreign manpower salary costs. If contracting parties are unable to reach an amicable outcome, contractors in eligible contracts can apply to seek a determination by an Assessor to adjust the contract sum for the increase in foreign manpower salary costs due to COVID-19 during the period from 1 October 2020 to 31 December 2021. Contractors may submit an application for an Assessor’s determination up to two months after the end of the relief period, i.e. latest by 28 February 2022. 

Further details on the processes under Part 2 and Part 10A of the Act can be found at http://www.mlaw.gov.sg/covid19-relief and http://go.gov.sg/cotma10a respectively.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 进一步延长《2019冠状病毒疾病（临时措施）法》下建筑环境领域相关合同的救济期

建筑环境（“BE”）领域受到2019冠状病毒疾病的不利影响。对此，政府以前所未有的方式介入，包括通过13.6亿新元建筑业支持配套提供可观的财政援助、人力支持，以及透过《2019冠状病毒疾病（临时措施）法》（“该法”）提供立法救济。我们的目标是确保建筑环境价值链上的任何单一环节，都不会因2019冠状病毒疾病而承担不成比例的负担。

该法第2部规定，在送达救济通知后，可在指定期间内获得临时救济，免于因2019冠状病毒疾病而无法履行合同义务所引发的特定类型法律与强制执行行动。该法第8B部要求合同各方共同分担因2019冠状病毒疾病导致延误所产生的额外非人力合格成本。该法第10A部提供救济框架，允许承包商向评估员申请裁定，以调整合同金额，应对因2019冠状病毒疾病而增加的外籍人力薪金成本，即工作准证持有人（WPH）的薪金成本。

政府此前已宣布，该法第2部、第8B部及第10A部与建筑环境领域相关的立法救济指定期间（“救济期”）将于2021年9月30日结束。

然而，在我们迈向成为具有2019冠状病毒疾病韧性的国家之际，建筑环境领域企业仍面临挑战。由于外籍劳工流入受限，劳动力成本上升。项目因人力紧张而延误。有鉴于此，我们将延长与建筑环境领域相关的临时立法救济，以帮助企业度过这一时期。

政府将以如下方式，将该法第2部、第8B部及第10A部下的救济期再延长三个月，至2021年12月31日：

a）延长该法第2部下的救济期

受2019冠状病毒疾病影响的建筑企业，可就建筑合同或供应合同，或为此提供的履约保证，向其合同相对方送达救济通知，以寻求免于法律与强制执行行动的临时救济，送达截止日期为2021年12月31日。

在此期间，鼓励各方以友好且互利的方式协商并解决分歧。若无法达成协议，且对救济通知所触发的救济是否适用存在争议，任何一方可在救济期结束后两个月内提交评估员裁定申请，即最迟于2022年2月28日。

b）延长该法第8B部下的救济期

第8B部下的成本分摊救济适用于非人力合格成本，该等成本因2019冠状病毒疾病在2020年4月7日至2021年12月31日期间造成的延误而产生。

c）延长该法第10A部下的救济期

承包商应与客户协商，就应对外籍人力薪金成本上升达成双方同意的安排。若合同各方无法达成友好结果，符合条件合同的承包商可申请由评估员裁定，就因2019冠状病毒疾病在2020年10月1日至2021年12月31日期间增加的外籍人力薪金成本调整合同金额。承包商可在救济期结束后两个月内提交评估员裁定申请，即最迟于2022年2月28日。

有关该法第2部及第10A部流程的进一步详情，可分别参阅 http://www.mlaw.gov.sg/covid19-relief 及 http://go.gov.sg/cotma10a。