Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry studied and incorporated lessons from the Ministry of Defence’s operational policies on managing heat stress and driving fatigue into the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) guidelines for migrant workers and commercial drivers; and (b) if so, what policy or procedural lessons have been adopted or adapted to enhance the WSH framework for high-risk outdoor and transport sectors.

Dr Tan See Leng: Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) guidelines are developed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the WSH Council in consultation with key stakeholders, which include relevant Government agencies. We have also involved the Ministry of Defence, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and their related entities in our reviews of guidelines on heat stress and fatigue management. As the training and operating conditions in the military are unique, MOM and the WSH Council incorporated lessons and practices where relevant to other workplace settings.

On heat stress, the SAF's practices have informed enhancements to the guidelines on measures to address heat stress, such as acclimatisation programmes and rest breaks, and recognition of heat illness symptoms.

On driving fatigue, the WSH Guidelines on Fatigue Management have incorporated feedback from DSO National Laboratories. The guidelines are applicable to commercial drivers and set out recommended measures, such as fatigue reporting mechanism for employees, sufficient rest periods in the work schedule and identification of fatigue symptoms.

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Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how does the Ministry evaluate work-related accident risks in platform delivery; (b) whether the Code of Practice for Platform Services will regulate cumulative, time-based incentives that encourage risky riding; and (c) whether the Ministry will mandate Safety Time-Outs on these platforms after the occurrence of accidents to ensure that operators prioritise rider safety over delivery speed and volume.

Dr Tan See Leng: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has extended the scope of the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act and Work Injury Compensation Act to cover platform work from 1 January 2025. This was after extensive consultation with platform operators and the labour movement to understand the safety risks faced by platform workers. These stakeholders collectively developed the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for Platform Services, which sets out practical guidance for platform operators and platform workers to work safely, aligned to the WSH Act. In the event of a prosecution under the Act, the Courts will take into consideration whether the ACOP was complied with.

The ACOP for Platform Services sets out that platform operators should not set any limit, penalty or bonus incentives for platform workers to complete a job within a certain time. It also highlights that platform workers should not neglect safety for monetary incentives. In September 2025, the Platform Workers Trilateral Group further strengthened safeguards by bringing together platform operators and platform work associations to develop guiding principles for platform work incentives. For example, incentives should be structured reasonably and not compromise the health and safety of platform workers.

MOM is monitoring work-related accidents involving platform workers, and will work with partners to enhance our measures to safeguard platform workers’ safety as needed. MOM takes a calibrated approach, balancing the need for heightened vigilance with the potential disruption to business operations and worker livelihoods when deciding whether to call for a Safety Time-Out.