Workplace deaths rise in Singapore
In Singapore, 21 people died at workplaces in January–June 2026. The annualised fatal injury rate rose to 1.1 cases per 100,000 workers, exceeding the government’s target of keeping it below one case by 2028, Channel NewsAsia reports, citing Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower.
The most frequent cause of deaths was incidents involving vehicles, with nine cases. Four deaths involved platform workers. Fatality statistics include such workers, while serious injury data do not cover them.
At the same time, the number of serious workplace injuries fell to 314, while their annualised rate was 14.6 per 100,000 workers. The ministry said this was the lowest level on record, excluding 2020, when work was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Review of safety measures
The Ministry of Manpower is reviewing additional measures to strengthen accountability for workplace safety. In particular, the agency is to assess the demerit points system for safety requirement violations and the bizSAFE programme, which aims to develop relevant capabilities among companies. The link between training and the practical implementation of safety rules will also be reviewed.
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In June, authorities tightened penalties following a series of workplace deaths, including by raising fines and stepping up inspections during the two-week nationwide Safety Time-Out campaign. The ministry said the situation has stabilised since then.
Risks for platform workers
In the first half of the year, 44 cases of fatal and serious injuries among platform workers were recorded. Of these, 38 involved road incidents. Delivery services accounted for 37 cases, while another seven involved ride-hailing services.
The annualised rate of fatal and serious injuries among platform workers was 92.1 per 100,000 workers, compared with 95.9 in the corresponding period of 2025. At the same time, it was significantly higher than in construction, manufacturing, and the transport and warehousing sector. A task force involving government agencies, platform operators, trade unions and industry associations is studying measures for safer driving of cars and motorcycles and is to complete its work by the end of 2026.
In construction, the number of fatal and serious injuries fell to 69, although injuries increased slightly on small projects. The manufacturing sector recorded 62 such cases, while in metalworking their number rose from 18 to 28. The ministry plans to maintain more frequent inspections of metalworking enterprises, focusing on equipment safety and fall prevention.
