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./.
