New Tripartite Advisory on Provision of Rest Areas for Outsourced Workers
New Regulation or Official Guidance
Authors: Benjamin Gaw, Director and Elizabeth Tong, Director - Drew & Napier LLC
On December 9, 2019, the tripartite partners (i.e., the Ministry of Manpower, National Trade Union Congress, and the Singapore National Employers Federation) released a Tripartite Advisory on Provision of Rest Areas for Outsourced Workers. The Advisory sets out good practices for service buyers and service providers in providing rest areas for outsourced workers. Amongst other recommendations, the Advisory recommends that service buyers minimally ensure that outsourced workers be provided with facilities to safe keep their belongings and access to water for drinking.
Publication of Workplace Safety and Health (Approved Codes of Practice) Notification
New Regulation or Official Guidance
Authors: Benjamin Gaw, Director and Elizabeth Tong, Director - Drew & Napier LLC
The Workplace Safety and Health (Approved Codes of Practice) Notification 2019 was published in the Government Electronic Gazette on December 6, 2019. The Notification, which became effective on December 16, 2019, adds codes of practices for the filling, inspection, testing and maintenance of gas cylinders for the storage and transport of compressed gases (SS 639: 2018); pneumatic waste conveyance system (SS 642: 2019); and temporary edge protection systems (SS EN 13374: 2018). The Notification also updated the codes of practices for diving at work (SS 511: 2018); electrical installations (SS 638: 2018); and tempo (SS 650: 2019).
New Skills Framework for Workplace Safety and Health
Proposed Bill or Initiative
Authors: Benjamin Gaw, Director and Elizabeth Tong, Director - Drew & Napier LLC
October 4, 2019 - SkillsFuture Singapore, Workforce Singapore and Workplace Safety and Health Council, along with employers, industry associations, education and training providers and the unions, have jointly developed the Skills Framework for workplace safety and health. The Framework provides information on the sector, career pathways, occupations/job roles, skills and competencies, and training programs, to equip the workplace safety and health workforce with the requisite skills and talent to facilitate sector progress. It is intended to benefit four key groups: individuals, employers, education and training providers, as well as government, union and professional bodies.
MOM and TADM Release Inaugural Employment Standards Report
Important Action by Regulatory Agency
Authors: Benjamin Gaw, Director and Elizabeth Tong, Director - Drew & Napier LLC
In October 2019, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) released the inaugural Employment Standards Report, highlighting their joint efforts in improving workplace practices and resolving employment disputes. The report notes that MOM adopts a three-pronged approach of education, rectification and enforcement in addressing employment issues. For salary claims lodged between April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018: (a) 85% were concluded within two months, with the remaining complex claims concluding between two and six months at TADM; (b) 84% of claims were resolved at TADM, while the remaining were referred to the Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT) for adjudication; and (c) 88% of employees, whose employers agreed or were ordered to make payment, fully recovered their salaries at TADM or the ECT, with the recovered sum totaling $29 million.
