The following are frequently asked questions about the movement control order relating to the retail sector, released today by the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry:
- Are distribution centres allowed to operate normally?
Distribution centres involved in the supply of essential daily needs and food items, including e-commerce warehouses and supporting warehouse services, are allowed to continue operating as usual.
- Are restaurants, ready-to-eat outlets/bakeries allowed to operate?
They are allowed to open, but only for take-away or drive-through purchases, or for delivery by companies such as Grab Food or Food Panda. Dine-in/eat-in is not allowed.
- What about food courts and other tenants in a hypermarket?
Food courts can operate as usual, but only for take-away purchases or delivery by companies like Grab Food or Food Panda. Dine-in/eat-in is not allowed.
As for tenants, only clinics and pharmacies in hypermarkets are allowed to operate.
- What about anchor tenants in a mall?
Only retail operations for food and essential daily items can proceed as usual, based on the agreement between the tenant and landlord.
- What about eateries/grocery shops/convenience stores in specialty stores?
These are allowed to operate, but only for take-away purchases or delivery by companies like Grab Food or Food Panda. Dine-in/eat-in is not allowed.
- Is the head office of a retailer allowed to operate normally?
Yes, but the management of the company must identify the sector/division/unit to be classified as essential services along with the staff who will come to work. For other non-essential services, a work-from-home approach should be taken.
- Will there be limits to each consumer’s purchase?
The ministry encourages supermarkets to exercise self-control dealing with unrealistic consumer purchases of food and other daily necessities.
- What about department stores with supermarkets and home furnishings/clothing/food court?
Only the supermarket area where food and essential items are sold will be allowed to operate.
- Can self-service launderettes continue operations?
No.
- Can security guards continue working at supermarkets?
Security services may continue.
- Is e-commerce an essential service?
Yes.
12. Are online purchases, deliveries and home installations allowed?
Yes.
- Are customer service call centres allowed to operate?
Yes.
- Can renovation work at business premises continue?
All ongoing renovation work needs to be postponed. If there are safety issues involved, the company should seek approval from the Works Ministry and Construction Industry Development Board for the renovation work to proceed.
- Are diapers and sanitary napkins considered essential items?
Yes.
- What about shops at airports?
Only tenants operating in the clinical pharmaceutical industry, supermarkets, sundry shops and convenience stores selling essential items are allowed to operate at airports. Dine-in/eat-in is not allowed.
- Are third-party service providers allowed to continue?
Services with direct impact on security and supply chain are permitted. Consumers and third-party service providers, however, must wear a face mask and sanitise their hands.
- Is rubbish collection for supermarkets/convenience stores allowed?
Yes.
- Can a company store rice, sugar, oil and flour above the quota?
The company must comply with any licence quota issued by any regulatory agency. However, this can be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Are pasar malam and farmer markets allowed to operate?
No.