Hold on or fold up: Singapore's construction, F&B players struggle to cope with crunch

Construction firms said the shortage of workers has led to an increase in subcontractor labour costs by about 20 to 30 per cent. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
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SINGAPORE - With tighter border controls amid the coronavirus pandemic limiting the entry of new foreign workers into Singapore, sectors dependent on foreign labour are being squeezed more than before.

More than 10 employers in the construction and food and beverage (F&B) sectors told The Sunday Times that their manpower costs have gone up significantly in the past few months. While some have tried to adjust and adapt, challenges remain.

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