Higher workplace safety fines, longer stop-work orders after spate of fatalities
Seven workers died in five separate workplace incidents over the past four weeks, bringing the total number of fatalities this year to 21.
Workers at a construction site in Singapore on Sep 14, 2021. (File photo: AFP/Roslan Rahman)
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SINGAPORE: Companies that flout workplace safety rules will face higher fines and longer stop-work orders under stricter measures announced by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Friday (Jun 26), as authorities respond to a recent spate of workplace deaths.
MOM said composition fines for safety offences detected during inspections will be raised from S$2,000 (US$1,500) to S$3,000 for first-time offenders, with steeper penalties for repeat or more serious breaches.
Firms issued stop-work orders will also face a minimum shutdown period of eight weeks, up from five weeks previously.
In the most serious cases, companies responsible for egregious safety lapses resulting in fatal or serious accidents may be barred from hiring new migrant workers for three months.
The tougher enforcement measures come after seven workers died in five separate workplace incidents over the past four weeks, bringing the total number of fatalities this year to 21 - up from 18 over the same period last year.
"The recent fatalities occurred across different industries and circumstances, and do not point to any single underlying cause," MOM said.
"The close succession of incidents is a cause for concern and highlights the need for continued vigilance and adherence to workplace safety requirements."
The enhanced measures, which have the support of multi-agency workplace safety and health taskforce partners, will be implemented from Jun 26 to Jul 31, and will be extended if safety outcomes do not improve.
The taskforce, formed in September 2023 to strengthen workplace safety and health in higher-risk sectors, comprises several ministries such as the Ministry of National Development, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Health.
It also includes the labour movement and the Workplace Safety and Health Council industry committees.
SAFETY TIME-OUT
As part of the stepped-up response, MOM has also called for a nationwide voluntary safety time-out lasting two weeks from Jun 26.
During this period, employers are encouraged to pause and review their work processes, strengthen risk controls and engage workers and supervisors on potential hazards. Particular attention should be given to vehicle-related activities, worker lapses and emergency response procedures following accidents, the ministry said.
"Workplace safety is a collective responsibility," Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash said in a video posted on Facebook.
"It requires vigilance and accountability from management and supervisors to intervene before risks escalate into harm," he added.
"No deadline, contract or business objective is worth risking lives."
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Melvin Yong expressed support for the safety time-out and enforcement measures, but warned they would be insufficient on their own.
"I strongly support MOM’s call for a national safety time-out, along with stronger enforcement and tougher penalties," said Mr Yong, who is also a member of the Workplace Safety and Health Council.
"These are important steps to send a clear signal that safety must always come first. But rules and enforcement alone will not prevent accidents," he said in a Facebook post on Friday.
Mr Yong highlighted the safety time-out as an opportunity for companies to look into their work processes.
"Where are the risks? What can be done better? How to keep workers safe?" he said.
He also noted the need to ensure workers feel safe to speak up when something is wrong.
"Many accidents can be prevented if someone flags an issue early," he said.
"Workplace safety is something we all share responsibility for - employers, supervisors and workers alike. We should also do more to tap on technology to improve safety, especially in higher-risk environments."
Editor’s note: The duration of the enhanced measures cited in this article has been updated after MOM amended the information on its factsheet.
