LEGISLATION ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (Review)

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower, in view of the fact that only half of the existing workforce is covered by the Factories Act, whether the Ministry will review legislation on occupational health and safety to extend its coverage to ensure that all workers, including knowledge workers of the new economy, are adequately protected at work.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry intends to amend the Factories Act to cover other workplaces besides factories. This will be done progressively. Hence, workplaces with more safety and health risks such as health care and catering establishments would be covered first. Office premises would be included in the later phase as the work activities carried out in offices are much less hazardous compared to these workplaces.

The amendments will be introduced later this year. It will also impose a duty on employers to implement preventive measures and monitoring regimes to protect the safety and health of employees at all workplaces.