Zaqy Mohamad on ensuring workplace safety and health

The Government takes workplace safety and health “extremely seriously”, said Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad. Replying to an MP’s question in Parliament on Tuesday (Jan 9), he said since the promulgation of the Workplace Safety and Health Act in 2006, Singapore’s workplace fatality rate has improved significantly from 3.1 per 100,000 workers in 2006 to around 1.0 today. The Government will continue to strive towards a workplace fatality rate of below 1.0 by 2028, he said. Mr Zaqy said improving workplace safety and health cannot be achieved through law and punishments alone. In addition to a good regulatory framework and sound policies, it is crucial to build a sustainable workplace safety and health culture, he said. Mr Zaqy said this requires a sustained and collective effort by organisations, management, industry, union leaders and workers. He also gave the assurance that the Ministry of Manpower is “impartial” with both public agencies and private organisations, in terms of inspections or enforcement actions.