MOM COS 2024: NTUC Cares about workers’ workplace safety and health

At the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Committee of Supply Debate on 4 March 2024, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Melvin Yong and NTUC Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit Director Jean See called for ways to ensure workers’ workplace safety and health (WSH).

Mr Yong said he was glad Singapore managed to lower the annual workplace fatality rates to 0.99 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2023, five years ahead of the country’s WSH 2028 goal.

But he also said the tripartite partners cannot rest on their laurels and asked how MOM plans to build on the positive trend.

In her speech, Ms See called for ways to empower freelancers and the self-employed to prioritise WSH.

She asked if MOM would consider making service buyers responsible for the WSH of freelancers and self-employed service providers.