Lower foreign-worker levy to promote safety training

Lower foreign-worker levy to promote safety training

Construction firms will be able to save $350 a month for each foreign worker on their staff - after they send them for safety training.

The discount on levies will begin in October and cover foreign workers with at least six years' construction experience in Singapore who are certified by the Building and Construction Authority.

Bosses will also be allowed to keep their foreign staff for longer.

The incentives were announced yesterday by Minister of State for Manpower Sam Tan and follow a spate of 40 deaths in the workplace since January.

Seventeen were from the construction sector, double that of the same period last year. The sector also had the highest number of fatalities for the whole of last year.

"Concerted and urgent action must be taken to improve workplace safety," said Mr Tan at an industry event.

Workers must finish at least 120 hours of training in approved safety courses or get an advanced certificate under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification framework.

These work permit holders will be upgraded to a R1 status.

Construction firms pay a levy of between $300 and $950 a month for each foreign worker they hire or have on their current staff.

The amount varies depending on whether firms stay within the allocated number of foreign workers per project. The number is calculated based on a formula called the Man Year Entitlement.

If a worker qualifies for the R1 scheme, firms need pay only between $300 and $600 a month for him. The rate will be revised again next year.

Workers on the R1 scheme can also be hired for up to 22 years - 12 more than their lower-skilled counterparts.

"Employers will also have greater flexibility in deploying these multi-skilled workers onsite, reducing downtime and improving productivity," said Mr Tan.

The long-term goal is to encourage a strong safety and health (WSH) culture in Singapore.

Last month, the Manpower Ministry (MOM) raised the minimum time for companies ordered to stop work, from two to three weeks.

Companies also risk being deprived of new foreign workers until they have resolved safety issues.

The MOM inspected more than 800 construction and marine worksites. Inspectors found more than 1,000 WSH violations. More than 22 stop-work orders and 300 fines were issued to 117 firms.

Kenneth Loo, president of the Singapore Contractors Association, said it proposed a scheme to recognise workers who are trained in safety.

"Saving on levy is one thing," he said. "The main thing is that workers can work longer, and with experience, it can enhance safety standards in the construction industry."


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