Adjournment motion on tackling occupational diseases for a healthier workforce

Occupational diseases (ODs) are health conditions caused by risk factors at the workplace. They not only cause debilitating effects, but can have lasting negative effects on workers’ earning ability, productivity, and employability, said Melvin Yong in an adjournment motion in Parliament on Wednesday (Jan 8). He gave examples of ODs, such as noise-induced deafness due to exposure to excessive workplace noise and work-related musculoskeletal disorders due to physical factors such as lifting heavy loads or working in awkward positions for extended periods of time. He noted that these two ODs made up more than 90 per cent of local OD cases reported in 2023 and the first half of 2024. Mr Yong also gave suggestions on how the Government and industry can better prevent, detect and deal with OD cases at the workplace. Responding, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad agreed that tackling ODs is crucial to achieving a healthier and more resilient workforce. He highlighted that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is strengthening its efforts to enable early detection and prevention of ODs. This includes rolling out the Enhanced Workplace Health Surveillance Programme in 2021 to address ODs caused by excessive exposure to noise and chemical hazards. He added that MOM is also taking steps to raise awareness on OD risks, such as its collaboration with the Ministry of Health to raise awareness in the medical community to detect and report ODs. Mr Zaqy stressed that the ministry remains committed to the Workplace Safety and Health 2028 goal to improve OD prevention and detection.