A Tripartite Committee To Bring Down Ill-Health At The Workplace

12 Dec 2008

The Ministry of Health (MOH), NTUC and SNEF are jointly forming a National Tripartite Committee on Workplace Health to bring down ill-health at the workplace.  The Committee will review existing strategy and health promotion programmes and formulate new strategy to make workplace an important platform for enhancing the health and productivity of employees in a significant way.

2 The tripartite committee will be headed by Mr Lucas Chow, CEO of MediaCorp and co-chaired by Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, Director, Quality Worklife Department, National Trades Union Congress. Mr Lucas Chow is concurrently the Chairman of the Health Promotion Board (HPB).  The committee will include Mr Roy Quek, Deputy Secretary, MOH and other key representatives from the HPB, Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) and several private companies.

3 The tripartite committee aims to promote healthy lifestyles among all employees and engage industry sectors to adopt workplace health promotion policies. They will build on the achievements of the past decade in promoting healthy lifestyle, to include workplace health screening and promote more effective chronic disease management for the employees. Specifically, the committee would look into the following areas:

a) Expand the current framework to place greater importance on control and management of chronic diseases, and promotion of mental well-being

b) Integrate workplace health promotion with occupational health and safety, work-life balance and business excellence frameworks

c)  Formulate strategies and measures to encourage and support employers to implement workplace health promotion programmes

d) Formulate strategies and measures to encourage employee participation in workplace health promotion programmes

WORKPLACE HEALTH PROMOTION

4 Promoting health in the workplace is important for both employers and employees, as we are faced with an ageing workforce, with a growing burden of chronic diseases and workplace healthcare costs. Health is a key consideration in the re-employment of older workers. Hence, workplace health promotion is a shared responsibility; it is the responsibility of employees to keep healthy and employers to promote a healthy and vibrant workplace. The work of the National Tripartite Committee will contribute towards a long term, sustained Workplace Health Promotion Programme as we strive to bring down ill health at the workplace.

5 Promoting workplace health is more than just promoting workplace exercise. It is a comprehensive and holistic approach comprising a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, and good mental wellbeing. It also involves ensuring that the working population has access to regular and appropriate health screening that has been proven to work.  For employees with chronic conditions, proper follow-up care and education should be provided so that they are motivated to comply with their treatment regime and are equipped with the necessary skills to manage their condition optimally.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

12 DEC 2008