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Written Answer to PQ on conveying heat stress measures to migrant workers

Workplace safety and health

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2400 of 2023 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 22 NOV 2023
QUESTION NO. 5227 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
NCMP: Ms Hazel Poa

To ask the Minister for Manpower in view of the enhanced measures to reduce heat stress for outdoor workers (a) whether the Ministry has avenues to directly convey these enhanced measures to foreign outdoor workers; and (b) if so, whether communication can be done in their respective native languages.

Answer

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council disseminate information to migrant workers regularly through various communication channels, such as the FWMOMCare application, Tik-Tok, Facebook and “Connect with ACE”, which is an e-newsletter for migrant workers.

2 The FWMOMCare application is available in six languages namely English, Mandarin, Bengali, Tamil, Thai and Vietnamese, and all migrant workers are asked to download it during the Settling-in Programme. Bite-sized information and simple pictograms on heat stress management in migrant workers’ native languages were disseminated via the FWMOMCare application earlier in May. Heat stress-related information was also published in the June 2023 issue of “Connect with ACE”.

3 These direct communications channels complement education efforts by employers. As part of the enhanced heat stress measures to reduce heat stress risks for outdoor workers, companies are required to educate their workers on preventive measures to take when working outdoors, such as hydrating regularly, resting under the shade and recognising early signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses.

4 MOM and WSH Council will continue to send heat stress-related information and reminders to workers and companies ahead of the hotter seasons.