Platform workers should not be penalised for delays during haze: Jasmin Lau

Under the Platform Workers Act, platform operators have workplace safety and health responsibilities towards their workers, said the Acting Minister for Manpower.

A food delivery rider wearing a mask turns off from a park connector along the Kallang River, Oct 16, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

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SINGAPORE: Platform workers should not be penalised for taking longer to complete deliveries or other jobs during the haze, said Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau on Friday (Oct 16).

This includes penalties imposed through incentive schemes, reduced job allocations or pay deductions, she said, adding that platform operators have been reminded of their duty to protect workers from haze-related health risks.

Under the Platform Workers Act , platform operators have workplace safety and health responsibilities towards their workers, including advising them on how to protect themselves during haze episodes.

Ms Lau was speaking at a press conference on the haze situation at the National Press Centre, which included Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu and Minister for Education Desmond Lee on the panel.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Ms Lau said some platform operators, including Grab and Foodpanda, have partnered with the National Delivery Champions Association to distribute N95 masks to workers. "We welcome such proactive efforts by platform operators, and I hope more will do the same," she added. Emphasising that protecting workers from the haze is “not optional”, Ms Lau said employers must take “reasonable and practicable measures” to keep their workers safe, including protecting them from the haze.

Ms Lau said some platform operators, including Grab and Foodpanda, have partnered with the National Delivery Champions Association to distribute N95 masks to workers.

"We welcome such proactive efforts by platform operators, and I hope more will do the same," she added.

Emphasising that protecting workers from the haze is “not optional”, Ms Lau said employers must take “reasonable and practicable measures” to keep their workers safe, including protecting them from the haze.

She added that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will issue additional advice on how employers can use the one-hour PM 2.5 readings to decide on immediate outdoor work activities and measures to be taken, which may include pausing outdoor work completely for vulnerable workers.

This will help employers make decisions on the ground operationally, as haze conditions change throughout the day.

Since September, MOM has carried out more than 400 worksite inspections.

"Most employers have done the right thing with haze management plans, N95 masks, and regular updates to workers," she said.

"And for the worksites that have fallen short, we have directed them to put that right, and we will check again. We will continue the inspections while the haze lasts."

Ms Lau said about a quarter of the more than 400 worksite inspections were found to have fallen short.

The reasons were “extremely varied” across sectors, Ms Lau said, adding that she did not have the details about exactly what the reasons were.

If the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) forecast is above 200, in the very unhealthy range, employers should implement measures in line with MOM guidelines, Ms Lau said.

These include avoiding prolonged or strenuous work outdoors, minimising outdoor work for vulnerable workers such as older workers, pregnant women, or those with heart and lung conditions, and providing N95 masks to workers who must carry out prolonged work outdoors.

If the PSI forecast enters the hazardous range above 300, employers should implement additional measures.

These include minimising outdoor work for healthy workers, and adopting additional precautions such as reducing work intensity, providing indoor rest breaks, and deferring non-essential work.

Employers should plan for these measures now, so that they are well prepared if the situation worsens, Ms Lau said.

FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENTS

Ms Lau said that employers are encouraged to let their employees work from home, especially those who are more vulnerable to the haze, where the job allows.

"The haze also creates practical problems at home. A child may fall sick, a parent may need more care, or schools may move to home-based learning at short notice," she said.

Under the tripartite guidelines on flexible work arrangements, employers must properly consider such requests, including from parents whose children are on home-based learning .

Ms Lau said the government recognises that flexible work arrangements may not be feasible for all jobs.

For jobs that can only be done on site, employers are urged to allow their employees to use their annual leave or childcare leave where applicable, she added.

Where those have run out, employers are encouraged to be flexible, grant paid time off, or let employees draw on next year's annual leave in advance without affecting their wages.

"Now these are exceptional conditions, and I ask that employers and employees discuss early and find arrangements that work for both sides.

"Until the haze passes, MOM will keep inspecting worksites, keep in touch with our employers, unions, and platform operators, and update the public as the conditions change," she said.

The 24-hour PSI readings reached the very unhealthy range in three regions on Friday.

Central Singapore was the first to cross into the very unhealthy band at midnight, and its 24-hour PSI climbed to 229 at 3pm – the highest reading recorded this year.

Singapore has now endured nearly two weeks of unhealthy air quality in at least one part of the island.

The last time all five regions recorded moderate air quality simultaneously was at midnight on Oct 5, when 24-hour PSI readings ranged from 77 to 100.

Friday also marks six weeks since Singapore recorded its first unhealthy 24-hour PSI reading of the year.

On Friday afternoon, national sports agency Sport Singapore said that outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities at all ActiveSG sport centres had been temporarily closed amid the current haze situation.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Thursday that Singapore is looking into which companies may be responsible for the forest and peatland fires in Indonesia that have caused the worsening haze .

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人力部代理部长表示，根据《平台工人法》，平台运营商对其工人负有工作场所安全和健康责任。

2026年10月16日，一名戴着口罩的外卖骑手从加冷河畔的一条公园连接道拐弯。（图片：CNA/Wallace Woon）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：人力部代理部长刘嘉敏周五（10月16日）表示，平台工人在雾霾期间不应因完成送货或其他工作时间延长而受到惩罚。

她表示，这包括通过激励计划、减少工作分配或扣减工资等方式施加的惩罚，并补充说，已提醒平台运营商有责任保护工人免受雾霾相关的健康风险。

根据《平台工人法》，平台经营者对其工人负有工作场所安全和健康责任，包括指导工人如何在雾霾天气中保护自己。

刘女士在国家新闻中心举行的关于雾霾情况的新闻发布会上发表了讲话，出席发布会的还有永续发展及环境部长傅海燕和教育部长李智陞。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 刘女士表示，包括Grab和Foodpanda在内的一些平台运营商已与全国外卖冠军协会合作，向员工分发N95口罩。“我们欢迎平台运营商采取这种积极主动的举措，希望更多平台运营商也能这样做，”她补充道。刘女士强调，保护员工免受雾霾侵害“并非可有可无”，雇主必须采取“合理可行的措施”保障员工安全，包括保护他们免受雾霾侵害。

刘女士表示，包括 Grab 和 Foodpanda 在内的一些平台运营商已与全国配送冠军协会合作，向配送员分发 N95 口罩。

她补充说：“我们欢迎平台运营商采取这种积极主动的举措，希望更多运营商能够效仿。”

刘女士强调，保护工人免受雾霾危害“并非可有可无”，雇主必须采取“合理可行的措施”来保障工人的安全，包括保护他们免受雾霾危害。

她补充说，人力部将发布更多建议，说明雇主如何利用一小时 PM 2.5 读数来决定立即开展户外工作活动以及应采取的措施，其中可能包括完全暂停弱势工人的户外工作。

这将有助于雇主根据一天中雾霾情况的变化，在实际操作中做出决策。

自9月以来，人力部已进行了400多次工地检查。

她说：“大多数雇主在雾霾管理计划、N95口罩以及定期向员工更新信息方面都做得对。”

“对于不达标的工地，我们已经责令他们改正，并且我们会再次检查。在雾霾持续期间，我们将继续进行检查。”

刘女士表示，在400多个工地检查中，约有四分之一被发现不合格。

刘女士表示，各行各业的原因“千差万别”，并补充说她并不了解具体原因。

刘女士表示，如果污染物标准指数（PSI）预测值超过 200，处于非常不健康的范围内，雇主应按照人力部（MOM）的指导方针采取措施。

这些措施包括避免长时间或剧烈的户外工作，尽量减少老年工人、孕妇或患有心脏和肺部疾病等弱势工人的户外工作，并为必须在户外长时间工作的工人提供 N95 口罩。

如果 PSI 预测值超过 300，进入危险范围，雇主应采取额外措施。

这些措施包括尽量减少健康工人的户外工作，并采取额外的预防措施，例如降低工作强度、提供室内休息时间以及推迟非必要工作。

刘女士表示，雇主现在就应该为这些措施做好计划，以便在情况恶化时能够做好充分准备。

灵活的工作安排

刘女士表示，鼓励雇主允许员工在家工作，尤其是那些更容易受到雾霾影响的员工，只要工作允许。

“雾霾也会给家庭带来实际问题。孩子可能会生病，家长可能需要更多照顾，或者学校可能会临时改为居家学习，”她说。

根据关于灵活工作安排的三方指导方针，雇主必须妥善考虑此类请求，包括子女在家学习的父母提出的请求。

刘女士表示，政府认识到灵活的工作安排可能并不适用于所有工作。

她补充说，对于只能在现场完成的工作，敦促雇主允许员工在适用情况下使用年假或育儿假。

如果这些假期用完了，鼓励雇主灵活处理，给予带薪休假，或者允许员工提前支取明年的年假，而不影响他们的工资。

“现在的情况非常特殊，我要求雇主和雇员尽早进行协商，找到对双方都有利的安排。”

“在雾霾消散之前，人力部将继续检查工地，与雇主、工会和平台运营商保持联系，并随着情况的变化及时向公众通报最新情况，”她说道。

周五，三个地区的 24 小时 PSI 读数达到了非常不健康的范围。

新加坡中部地区在午夜率先进入了非常不健康的空气污染等级，其 24 小时空气污染指数在下午 3 点攀升至 229，创下今年以来的最高纪录。

新加坡至少有一部分地区已经连续近两周空气质量不佳。

上一次所有五个地区同时记录到中等空气质量是在 10 月 5 日午夜，当时 24 小时 PSI 读数在 77 到 100 之间。

周五也是新加坡今年首次录得不健康的 24 小时 PSI 读数的第六周。

周五下午，新加坡国家体育机构Sport Singapore表示，鉴于目前的雾霾情况，所有ActiveSG体育中心的室外和非空调设施已暂时关闭。

新加坡总理黄循财周四表示，新加坡正在调查哪些公司可能应对印尼森林和泥炭地火灾负责，这些火灾导致了日益严重的雾霾。

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