1. LABOUR INSPECTION IN SINGAPORE
A Great Workforce A Great Workplace
LABOUR INSPECTION IN SINGAPORE
Mr Tan Fang Qun
Assistant Director (Ops Planning)/Head(International Collaboration),OSH Division
13 October 2010
ASEAN Labour Inspection Conference
Ha Long, Vietnam

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Key Labour Legislations
Labour Inspection Framework
Labour Inspection Strategies:
Employment Standards
Workplace Safety & Health
Conclusion

3. A Great Workplace, A Great Workforce
I. Singapore Ministry of Manpower
Vision
A Great Workplace, A Great Workforce
Mission
To achieve a globally competitive workforce and great workplace, for a cohesive society and a secure economic future

4. I. Singapore Ministry of Manpower
Strategic Outcomes:
A Globally Competitive Workforce
Financial Security and Lifelong Employability for Singaporeans
Progressive Workplaces
Safe and Healthy Workplaces
Good Employment Standards
Progressive HR Practices
Harmonious Industrial Relations

5. Workplace Safety and Health Act
II. Key Labour Legislations
Stipulates basic employment benefits, terms and conditions e.g. timely payment of salaries, hours of work
Employment Act
A performance based WSH regulatory framework
Focus on Risk Management
High penalties for deterrence
Workplace Safety and Health Act

6. Workplace Safety & Health
Employment Standards
Workplace Safety & Health
III. Labour Inspection Framework
Inspection units divided into Functional Areas to effectively address the unique issues
Employment Standards: Labour Relations & Workplaces Division (Standards Compliance)
Workplace Safety & Health: Occupational Safety & Health Division
Pro-active inspection approach
Intelligence / Accidents
Planning /
Investigations
Enforcement /
Licensing
Monitoring &
Surveillance
Coordination between inspection units to enhance effectiveness
Intelligence sharing
Joint operations

7. IV. Labour Inspections – Employment Standards
Four-Pronged strategy to achieve
good employment standards and practices
Engage (Network & rapport)
Educate
(Awareness)
Enable
Enforce
Regular dialogues with the industry to discuss and receive feed back on employment issues.
Promote good employment practices to employers and raise awareness among employees.
Partnership with external agencies to enhance workers’ skills sets, productivity and job image to improve working environment.
Initiate enforcement / prosecution actions against violation of Employment Act provisions

8. IV. Labour Inspections - Employment Standards
Ensuring Compliance with Employment Laws
- Targeted Approach
Improving employment standards through regular inspections in targeted industries with high incidences of vulnerable workers.
Cleaning
Security
Food & Beverage
Landscape

9. IV. Labour Inspections – Employment Standards
Ensuring Compliance with Employment Laws
Sectoral Approach
Employment standards
Workplace Safety and Health
Rectifications or punitive actions and monitor compliance
Inspections to ensure compliance of employment laws
Raise awareness of stakeholders (including employees) on employment laws
Identify the common malpractices
Understand the business model of each targeted industry through engagement

10. IV. Labour Inspections - Employment Standards
Ensuring Compliance with Employment Laws
- Other Industries
Triggers from complaints by member of public and referrals from external agencies.
Monthly pro-active inspections (non-industry specific) to ensure compliance of employment laws.

11. IV. Labour Inspections - Employment Standards
- Sectoral Approach – Security Sector
Regular dialogues and forums. Briefings sessions and forums to educate on employment laws and regulatory requirements attended by trade associations and union. Information booklet on employment laws customised for security officers.
Targeted Enforcement. Targeted enforcement was conducted on this sector on employment standards.

12. IV. Labour Inspections - Employment Standards
- Sectoral Approach – Security Sector
Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) for Security Sector. Skills standards introduced in All security officers are required to undergo training and pass two mandatory modules.
Security officer Identification Card introduced in Improve image, public confidence and professionalism.
Job Redesign. Some security guard agencies came on board the “Advantage – Security Job Redesign” programme to enhance productivity through adoption of technology.
Mandatory Grading of Security Guard Agencies (SGA). Promote security awareness amongst buyers. Motivate SGAs to improve their professional standards.

13. IV. Labour Inspections - Employment Standards
- Sectoral Approach – Security Sector
Some Results:
Greater compliance of employment laws. Fewer employment disputes and claims observed. Improved working conditions for security officers.
More Professionalised. Better skilled, better image.
More females officers are joining the industry. The improved working conditions have attracted more females into this industry.
Improved salaries. Higher salaries for security officers with higher skills qualifications.

14. IV. Labour Inspections -
Raising Workplace Safety & Health Standards
Strategies, Programmes and Interventions
Triggers
Programme
Interventions
Industry-wide
Accident trends
Programme Based Engagement (ProBE)
“Targeting where it matters”
Ground observations on new / emerging issues
Cluster Operations (COPS)
Issues of immediate concern
Exercise SWIFT
“Prompt & rapid response”
Fatal / Serious accidents
Accident Investigations
“Uncovering accident causes”
Company –specific
Poor performing companies
Business-under-surveillance (BUS)
Complaints from public and workers
Complaints Investigations
“Leveraging on the eyes and ears on the ground”

15. – Workplace Safety and Health Standards
IV. Labour Inspections
– Workplace Safety and Health Standards
Programme –Based Engagement (ProBE)
5 Key Phases
1. Identify key areas of concern at start of year (e.g. Falling from heights)
2. Inform and prepare the industry with dialogue sessions, checklist before inspections
5. Communicate with industry on the findings for ProBE
4. Monitor the performance of companies
3. WSH Inspectors will carry out inspection on area of concern

16. Workplace Safety and Health Standards
IV. Labour Inspections
Workplace Safety and Health Standards
Cluster Operations (COPS)
Phase 1
Intel and Planning
Phase 2
Engagement and Operations
Phase 3
Debrief and Sharing
Focus on specific geographical region or issue over a specific timeframe
Based on issues that arise over the course of the year
Leverage on media to increase reach
Poor performers are highlighted
Create greater awareness to ensure continued vigilance

17. - Workplace Safety and Health Standards
IV. Labour Inspections
- Workplace Safety and Health Standards
Exercise Swift
Enforcement response tool for critical situations
Spats of Accidents
Critical risk that was previously unknown
Enforcement presence is felt on the ground
Intensive and extensive enforcement exercise on the issue

18. - Workplace Safety and Health Standards
IV. Labour Inspections
- Workplace Safety and Health Standards
Accident Investigations
Detailed investigation conducted for serious accidents to determine the root cause
Identify corrective actions (at company and industry level) to prevent future accidents
Serious WSH Act violations will result in prosecution including individuals

19. - Workplace Safety and Health Standards
IV. Labour Inspections
- Workplace Safety and Health Standards
Business-under-Surveillance (BUS)
Close monitoring of companies with poor WSH performance
Regular visits from OSHI inspectors
Progress updates on WSH action plans
Stiff enforcement actions are used to secure:
Strong management commitment
Ownership of WSH outcomes
Marked improvement in WSH standards
Company must be able to manage WSH satisfactorily before exiting from programme

20. - Workplace Safety and Health Standards
IV. Labour Inspections
- Workplace Safety and Health Standards
Complaints Investigation
Complaints received from various sources – e.g. Safety hotline,
All complaints are attended to
WSH conditions that result in imminent danger are investigated immediately
In less severe cases, companies are required to show documentary proof of implemented measures
Ensures continued vigilance on WSH issues

21. - Workplace Safety and Health Standards
IV. Labour Inspections
- Workplace Safety and Health Standards
Results 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
6.0
Number of workplace Fatalities
Actual
Fatality rate
Target
Workplace Fatalities,
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
Year
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2018
No. of workplace fatalities 83 71 62 63 67 70
(<50)
Fatality rate
(Target)
4.9
(≤5.0)
4.0
(≤4.6)
3.1
(≤4.0)
2.9
(≤3.1)
2.8
(≤2.8)
(≤2.7)
(≤1.8)

22. V. Conclusions Aspects of labour inspection strategy:
Holistic approach - Engage, Educate, Enable, Enforce
Proactive and targeting where it matters
Strong inter-agency collaborations and tripartite co-operation