The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has made it clear on their commitment towards workplace safety and have intensified enforcement efforts against companies who disregard the well-being of their workers.
In a written reply to a query made by MP Tin Pei Ling in Parliament yesterday, Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin remarks that they have taken particular concern in the workplace safety performance of the construction sector and are taking active steps to address it. A total of 30 workplace fatalities have occurred in the first half of 2014 — an increase from last year’s 25 — with a majority taking place in the construction sector.
To combat the problem, MOM has stepped up enforcement efforts in high risk sectors, conducting about 4,600 inspections and executed 51 Stop Work Orders, 2,000 Composition Fines and over 6,000 Notices of Non-Compliance. Companies performing poorly in terms of workplace safety have been placed under the Business Under Surveillance Programme for close monitoring and supervision.
An enhancement to the current workplace safety and health demerit point system is planned, and will improve efficiency in identifying contractors with poor work practices while also restricting their access to foreign manpower if no improvement is made in their safety records.
The Ministry is continuing to work closely with the industry to raise the safety standards, but will not hesitate to take stern action against those flouting it.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Reader Interactions