Protection against Accidents (Dockers) Convention (Revised), 1932 (No. 32) - Singapore (Ratification: 1965)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Article 17(2) of the Convention and Part V of the report form. Application in practice. In its previous comment, the Committee requested an explanation on the reported drop in inspections in ports and penalties imposed, between 1995 and 2011. The Committee notes the clarification provided by the Government on the apparent drop in inspections in ports and sanctions imposed between 1995 and 2011, notably that the numbers of inspections cited in the reports of 1996 and 2012 included complementary inspections carried out by different government agencies. The Government adds that the safety and health legislative framework in place under the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act encourages safety and health ownership at all levels. WHS inspectors undertake inspections in relation to the WSH Act. These actions include the analysis of statistics to identify problem areas and hotspots, before designing the interventions. Such an approach may result in fluctuations in inspection numbers in different years. Lastly, the Government indicates that there have been significant improvements in the safety and health records in ports in the past ten years, due to the focus on engagement in workplace safety and health issues. In this regard, the Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC) has a Logistics and Transport Committee, comprising of sector leaders, to address specific challenges in ports. The WSHC sets standards and provides resources such as guidelines, case studies, videos and posters, and encourages good practices through capability programmes and awards. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing detailed information on the manner in which the Convention is applied, including any relevant measures from the WSHC in relation to the protection of dockworkers against accidents, relevant reports from the inspection services and details on the number of inspections carried out, the number of violations detected and the nature and causes of accidents recorded.

Prospects for the ratification of the most up-to-date Convention. The Committee encourages the Government to review the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 328th Session (October–November 2016) approving the recommendations of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group, and to consider ratifying the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152), which is the most up-to-date instrument in this subject area. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken in this regard.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

The Committee notes with deep concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It expects that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments. The Committee informs the Government that, if it has not supplied replies to the points raised by 1 September 2020, then it may proceed with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the information at its disposal at its next session.

Repetition

Legislation. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest that the Workplace Safety and Health Act (No. 7 of 2006) (the WSH Act) recognizes the importance of managing safety and health using a management system approach. The WSH Act applies to works carried out in the ports and it adopts an outcome-based approach ensuring that risks are eliminated or mitigated at source. The Committee also notes that the Government developed a subsidiary legislation under the WSH Act, the Workplace Safety and Health (Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing) Regulations 2008, as well as a new Code of Practice on Safe Lifting Operations and a number of guidelines that encourage better WSH practices in ports, and it also revised the WSH (Operation of Crane) Regulation 2008. Furthermore, the Government established the WSH Institute that works with the WSH Council. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on any development in this respect.

Article 17(2) of the Convention and Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes from the Government’s previous reports that between 1995 and 2011, the number of inspections carried out and of penalties imposed in the ports appears to be decreasing from 756 to 394 and from 1,406 to 17 respectively. The Committee requests the Government to explain the reasons of these trends and to indicate the measures taken to address them.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments initially made in 2013.

Repetition

Legislation. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest that the Workplace Safety and Health Act (No. 7 of 2006) (the WSH Act) recognizes the importance of managing safety and health using a management system approach. The WSH Act applies to works carried out in the ports and it adopts an outcome-based approach ensuring that risks are eliminated or mitigated at source. The Committee also notes that the Government developed a subsidiary legislation under the WSH Act, the Workplace Safety and Health (Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing) Regulations 2008, as well as a new Code of Practice on Safe Lifting Operations and a number of guidelines that encourage better WSH practices in ports, and it also revised the WSH (Operation of Crane) Regulation 2008. Furthermore, the Government established the WSH Institute that works with the WSH Council. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on any development in this respect.

Article 17(2) of the Convention and Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes from the Government’s previous reports that between 1995 and 2011, the number of inspections carried out and of penalties imposed in the ports appears to be decreasing from 756 to 394 and from 1,406 to 17 respectively. The Committee requests the Government to explain the reasons of these trends and to indicate the measures taken to address them.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Legislation. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest that the Workplace Safety and Health Act (No. 7 of 2006) (the WSH Act) recognizes the importance of managing safety and health using a management system approach. The WSH Act applies to works carried out in the ports and it adopts an outcome-based approach ensuring that risks are eliminated or mitigated at source. The Committee also notes that the Government developed a subsidiary legislation under the WSH Act, the Workplace Safety and Health (Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing) Regulations 2008, as well as a new Code of Practice on Safe Lifting Operations and a number of guidelines that encourage better WSH practices in ports, and it also revised the WSH (Operation of Crane) Regulation 2008. Furthermore, the Government established the WSH Institute that works with the WSH Council. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on any development in this respect.

Article 17(2) of the Convention and Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes from the Government’s previous reports that between 1995 and 2011, the number of inspections carried out and of penalties imposed in the ports appears to be decreasing from 756 to 394 and from 1,406 to 17 respectively. The Committee requests the Government to explain the reasons of these trends and to indicate the measures taken to address them.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

1. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report. It notes the adoption of the Workplace Safety and Health Act (No. 7 of 2006) replacing the Factories Act (No. 6 of 1973), which provides a new framework of occupational safety and health standards based on the principles including reducing risk at the source, making employers responsible for developing safe work procedures, and preventing accidents. With reference to information provided in the previous report, the Committee requests the Government to clarify whether and to what extent, the new Workplace Safety and Health Act has any impact on other legislation applying the Convention in the country.

2. Part V of the report form. Practical application. With reference to statistical information provided by the Government in its earlier report, the Committee requests the Government to provide up to date statistical information on the number of inspections carried out, violations noted and penalties imposed as regards issues covered by the Convention.

3. The Committee takes the opportunity to recall that the Governing Body of the ILO has invited parties to Convention No. 32 to consider ratification of Convention No. 152, which revised Convention No. 32 (GB.268/LILS/5(Rev.1), paragraphs 99–101). Such ratification would automatically entail an immediate denunciation of Convention No. 32. The Committee also wishes to bring to the Government’s attention an ILO code of practice in this area, Safety and health in ports, Geneva, 2005. This code of practice is available, inter alia, through the ILO’s web site by following the link, http://www.ilo.org/public/english/
protection/safework/cops/english/index.htm. The Government is requested to keep the Committee informed of any developments in this respect.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

The Committee notes the Government's report.

It would be grateful to the Government if it would provide, in its next report, the information permitting it to appreciate the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice, i.e. extracts from the reports of the inspection services, samples of statistics regarding the number of workers covered by the relevant legislation, the number and nature of the contravention reported, the number, nature and causes of accidents reported, in conformity with point V of the report form of the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1988, published 75th ILC session (1988)

The Committee takes note of the information supplied by the Government in reply to its earlier comments and has examined the legislation appended to the report. Following its examination, the Committee notes with satisfaction that Regulations 58 and 59 of the Singapore Port Regulations, 1977, have been amended under the 1985 Regulations (amendment) in order to extend the scope of the application of the safety measures concerning the loading and unloading of vessels and to give effect to Article 9, paragraph 2 (subparagraphs (1) to (5)), of the Convention (examination of hoisting machines and accessory gear before and during use and certification of their safe working order).