Hansard Explorer

Dr Wan Rizal asked the Acting Minister for Manpower in view of the recent prolonged haze and the mandatory heat stress measures taking effect on 1 December 2026, whether the Ministry will work with tripartite partners to issue guidance to service buyers to ensure that outsourced cleaning and outdoor service contractors are not penalised under fixed price contracts for adjusting work schedules or providing protective measures.

The Minister of State for Manpower (Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash) (for the Acting Minister for Manpower): The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) takes a serious view of the health and safety risks to outdoor workers from haze and heat stress. Employers, including those who employ workers in outsourced cleaning and outdoor service sectors, should comply with MOM's advisories on keeping outdoor workers safe from these risks.

We recognise that these measures, including work schedule adjustments and the adoption of protective measures, may increase service providers' operating costs and may result in difficulties in meeting contractual requirements.

Under the Tripartite Advisory on Best Sourcing Practices, service buyers should allow for reasonable changes to bid prices if there are justifications on the basis of unforeseen circumstances that could lead to higher operating costs for service providers during the contract term.

In line with the spirit of this Tripartite Advisory, we also urge service buyers to exercise collective social responsibility, show understanding and exercise flexibility towards service providers whose operations are affected by the need to protect their workers in compliance with the haze and heat stress response measures.

Mr Speaker: Dr Wan Rizal.

Dr Wan Rizal (Jalan Besar): Sir, I thank the Minister of State. The tripartite partners already have the Tripartite Advisory, as mentioned earlier, on best sourcing practices, which guides service buyers on fair practice for cleaning, security and landscape services. With this prolonged haze and new heat stress requirements, will the Ministry work with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) to update this advisory? Buyers should build flexibility for haze and heat into their contracts so contractors who protect workers are not penalised. NTUC and our union stand ready to work with MOM and SNEF on this.

My second supplementary question. Earlier, the Ministry has made clear that platform operators should not penalise delivery riders for haze-related delays. Our cleaners, our landscapers and our conservancy workers deserve the same protection. Will the tripartite partners make it clear that the same principle applies to service buyers? Protecting workers from haze should never be counted as poor performance under a contract.

A third point I want to raise is that Government agencies, Town Councils and schools are amongst the largest buyers of outsourced cleaning and outdoor services. Will the Ministry work with procuring agencies so that public sector contracts adopt these haze and heat provisions first? This will set the standard for private buyers to follow.

Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash: To all three questions, I think generally, the answer is yes, but let me explain. Firstly, the Tripartite Advisory on Best Sourcing Practices does already provide some degree of flexibility. We will certainly look out for more flexibility where required, but we should always guard against over-regulation of commercial contracts. We stand together with SNEF and NTUC to bring this forward.

On the second supplementary question, we also encourage service buyers and providers to take up outcome-based contracts in the future. Outcome-based contracts can provide service providers with the flexibility that I have highlighted earlier, inclusive of schedule adjustments, manpower deployment changes without penalty and at the same time, let them be able to fulfill their contractual requirements.

On the third supplementary question, yes, MOM will work with Government procurement entities to exercise and operationalise flexibility aligned to the spirit of the Tripartite Advisory wherever practical. In other words, we hope for employers and employees: one, to think flexibility over rigid guidelines; two, to think outcome rather than just process; and three, to think more on the longer term rather than just about short-term profits.