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

2. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 2 PRESENTATION OUTLINE I.Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) II.Key Labour Legislations III.Labour Inspection Framework IV.Labour Inspection Strategies: Employment Standards Workplace Safety & Health V.Conclusion

3. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 3 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. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 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. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 5 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. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 6 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 Coordination between inspection units to enhance effectiveness Intelligence sharing Joint operations Intelligence / Accidents Planning / Investigations Planning / Investigations Enforcement / Licensing Enforcement / Licensing Monitoring & Surveillance Monitoring & Surveillance

7. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 7 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 IV. Labour Inspections – Employment Standards Four-Pronged strategy to achieve good employment standards and practices Engage (Network & rapport) Educate (Awareness) Enable Enforce

8. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 8 Improving employment standards through regular inspections in targeted industries with high incidences of vulnerable workers. Cleaning Security Food & Beverage Landscape IV. Labour Inspections - Employment Standards Ensuring Compliance with Employment Laws - Targeted Approach

9. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 9 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 IV. Labour Inspections – Employment Standards Ensuring Compliance with Employment Laws Sectoral Approach

10. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 10 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. IV. Labour Inspections - Employment Standards Ensuring Compliance with Employment Laws - Other Industries

11. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 11 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. IV. Labour Inspections - Employment Standards - Sectoral Approach – Security Sector

12. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 12 Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) for Security Sector. Skills standards introduced in 2006. All security officers are required to undergo training and pass two mandatory modules. Security officer Identification Card introduced in 2009. 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. IV. Labour Inspections - Employment Standards - Sectoral Approach – Security Sector

13. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 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. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 14 IV. Labour Inspections - Raising Workplace Safety & Health Standards Strategies, Programmes and Interventions TriggersProgramme 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. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 15 4. Monitor the performance of companies 3. WSH Inspectors will carry out inspection on area of concern 5. Communicate with industry on the findings for ProBE 2. Inform and prepare the industry with dialogue sessions, checklist before inspections 1. Identify key areas of concern at start of year (e.g. Falling from heights) 5 Key Phases IV. Labour Inspections – Workplace Safety and Health Standards Programme –Based Engagement (ProBE)

16. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 16 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 Phase 1 Intel and Planning Phase 2 Engagement and Operations Phase 3 Debrief and Sharing IV. Labour Inspections - Workplace Safety and Health Standards Cluster Operations (COPS)

17. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 17 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 IV. Labour Inspections - Workplace Safety and Health Standards Exercise Swift

18. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 18 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 IV. Labour Inspections - Workplace Safety and Health Standards Accident Investigations

19. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 19 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 IV. Labour Inspections - Workplace Safety and Health Standards Business-under-Surveillance (BUS)

20. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 20 Complaints received from various sources – e.g. Safety hotline, email 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 IV. Labour Inspections - Workplace Safety and Health Standards Complaints Investigation

21. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 21 Year2004200520062007200820092018 No. of workplace fatalities 837162636770(<50) Fatality rate (Target) 4.9 (≤5.0) 4.0 (≤4.6) 3.1 (≤4.0) 2.9 (≤3.1) 2.8 (≤2.8) 2.9 (≤2.7)(≤1.8) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 Workplace Fatalities, 2004 - 2009 Number of workplace Fatalities Actual Fatality rate Target IV. Labour Inspections - Workplace Safety and Health Standards Results

22. © 2010 Government of Singapore A Great Workforce A Great Workplace 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