Singapore raises maximum fines for workplace safety breaches

Maximum fines for workplace safety breaches in Singapore will increase from 20,000 SGD to 50,000 SGD (37,000 USD) from Jun 1, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on May 27.

Workers at a construction site in Singapore in 2021. (File photo: AFP)
Workers at a construction site in Singapore in 2021. (File photo: AFP)

Singapore (VNA) – Maximum fines for workplace safety breaches in Singapore will increase from 20,000 SGD to 50,000 SGD (37,000 USD) from Jun 1, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on May 27.

From next month, construction sites with a contract sum of 5 million SGD or more have to install surveillance cameras at high-risk locations.

The increased sum is to act as a “stronger deterrence” against offences under the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act Subsidiary Legislation that could result in death, serious injury or serious harm, said the ministry.

Such offences include failing to provide suitable personal protective equipment and not warning of hazards that may cause serious harm.

According to the MOM, the increase in maximum fines is a proactive step towards strengthening ownership and accountability of WSH, particularly among senior company leadership who are responsible for shaping the safety culture at the workplace.

Although Singapore have seen improvements in ensuring work safety, construction sector remained a top contributor of fatal and major injuries across sectors in 2023.

Regulations on work safety have been tightened after Singapore saw the workplace fatality rate fall below 1 per 100,000 workers in 2023, the first time it went under that mark apart from 2020 when work was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic./.

VNA

See more

Authorities in Banteay Meanchey province raids a building used for online fraud in Poipet city, arresting more than 270 people and seizing a large amount of evidence in July (Photo: AKP/VNA)

Cambodia proposes life imprisonment for leaders of online scam networks

A 2024 report by the United States Institute of Peace estimated that illicit revenues from online scams in Cambodia could exceed 12.5 billion USD annually, equivalent to roughly half of the country’s GDP. Prime Minister Hun Manet has previously said the scam centres are seriously damaging Cambodia’s economy and international image, pledging to “clean up” the problem.

Laos confirms stable fuel supply

Laos confirms stable fuel supply

Government spokesperson Sonexay Sitphaxay and Lao Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Chanthaboun Soukaloun provided an update on the national fuel supply situation.

Singapore diversifies its sources of imported LNG, and also has a fuel stockpile for power-generation companies to draw from. (Photo: Reuters)

Singapore adopts multiple measures to safeguard energy security

On the measures the Singapore government has in place to handle the rise in global gas prices, Tan highlighted that around half of the city-state’s gas is piped to Singapore from the region and is therefore “unaffected”. Moreover, the country diversifies its sources of imported LNG, and hence is “not overly exposed to the Middle East”, he noted.

Philippines eyes non-permanent seat in UN Security Council

Philippines eyes non-permanent seat in UN Security Council

The Philippines has been working with the UN on many important global issues for decades, and its candidacy for the Security Council serves not only the country's own interests but also aims to strengthen its overall cooperation with the world's largest multilateral organisation, President Marcos said.

An Air India Express Boeing 737-300 sits on the runway at Phuket airport shortly after making a hard landing on March 11. (Photo: Phuket International Airport)

Aircraft incident disrupts operations at Thailand’s Phuket airport

Preliminary findings indicated that the aircraft made a hard landing, resulting in damage to the landing gear and nose gear assembly. The incident caused the aircraft to veer off the runway and prevented it from being moved immediately, leading airport authorities to suspend runway operations.

Indonesian authorities rescue 34 stranded pilot whales

Indonesian authorities rescue 34 stranded pilot whales

The agency's head Imam Fauzi said his team conducted rescue operations for a total of 55 stranded whales from March 9 night to March 10 in a coordinated effort involving local security forces, conservation agencies, officials, and residents. Twenty-one whales were declared dead after stranding.

Indonesia shipped 1.8 million tonnes of palm oil to the Middle East in 2025. (Photo: REUTERS)

Middle East conflict pushes up Indonesia’s palm oil export costs

The conflict, which intensified after coordinated strikes by the US and Israel on Iran’s capital Tehran late last month, had disrupted key maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, some cargo vessels were delayed or forced to take longer alternative routes, raising transport expenses and maritime insurance premiums.

Minister of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform Rini Widyantini (Photo: beritasatu.com)

Indonesia steps up plan to relocate civil servants to new capital

A meeting to review progress and implementation mechanisms for the relocation plan focused on office capacity in Nusantara, the availability of official housing and the criteria for selecting ministries and agencies that will relocate in the initial phase.

Delegates at the press briefing (Photo: Tempo.co)

Indonesia likely to achieve 6% growth amid geopolitical uncertainty

At a press briefing in Jakarta on March 11 to release the state budget report, Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi said the Indonesian economy remained in an expansionary phase, with macroeconomic indicators staying stable. He noted that first-quarter growth was expected to exceed the 5.39% recorded in the final quarter of 2025.