Singapore’s WSH Council is leading a campaign to tackle employees’ mental health.

By Marta Chmielowicz

Working from home throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened employees’ mental stress, particularly among parents who had to juggle full-time work with childcare. In response, Singapore’s Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council recently launched its annual campaign to promote health and safety in the workplace.

On 29 April 2021, close to 850 people joined the WSH Council in the opening of its year-long National WSH Campaign, which was launched on-site and online for the first time with the message to “Take Time to Take Care of Your Safety and Health.”

This year’s campaign encourages organisations and employees to set aside “Care Time” to improve their safety and well-being. “Care Time” is a regularly scheduled half hour every week when workers can assess their surroundings for hazards or engage in health activities like rest, drinking water, or doing simple stretching exercises.

According to the Chairman of the WSH Council John Ng, these actions can heighten workers’ awareness of unsafe conditions in their workplace, ultimately improving their long-term health.

In his opening address, Zaqy Mohamad, senior minister of state for manpower, said that everyone has a role to play in ensuring a safe workplace. “Do not be afraid to report unsafe conditions and near-misses to your supervisors,” he said. “If you see your co-worker working unsafely, you can also speak up and educate them on good safety practices. By doing so, you could save someone else’s or even your own life.”

Employers are also reminded to regularly complete risk assessments, offer safety training, encourage employees to take time off, and listen to employee feedback and complaints.