Latest news with #TripartiteConnect
New Paper
4 days ago
- Business
- New Paper
MOM probing Jane Lee work injury claim: MOS Dinesh
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is investigating an allegedly fraudulent work injury claim flagged by Ms Jane Lee, the late owner of Sumo Salad, said Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash as he extended his condolences to her family. In response to The Straits Times' questions during a media doorstop at the Tripartite Connect event on July 24, he said MOM "has been in communication with Ms Lee prior to her passing, and we will work with the insurer on the necessary claims". There is also a police investigation, and more details will be revealed once the probe is completed, he said. Ms Lee died a day after posting two Facebook messages on July 18, alleging that a former staff member had faked a fall just two days before the end of her contract, in an attempt to claim workplace injury compensation from the company. The mother of two alleged that it was a premeditated scheme involving the employee's husband and possibly a law firm. She also urged MOM and the police to investigate the validity of the claim thoroughly. The incident has sparked widespread public sympathy and prompted some small and medium-sized (SME) enterprise owners to speak out about the immense pressure they face when handling workplace injury cases - whether they are staged or genuine. Mr Hasan Abdul Rahman, the second-generation owner of halal food manufacturer Pondok Abang, said most workplace injury cases he has seen could have been avoided if his staff had followed standard operating procedures. While he has not encountered outright fraud, he admitted to having suspicions when injuries occur near the end of an employee's stint. But he told ST that most bosses would not pursue further to avoid prolonged disputes and regulatory scrutiny. Instead, their instinct is to get immediate medical attention for the staff, settle the claims with insurers and return to daily operations quickly. But when SME owners - especially those with less financial muscle - are compelled to sign letters of guarantee in the hospital, they can experience "a lot of emotional and financial distress", Mr Hasan said. The unsubsidised bills for foreign hires can be huge, and employers are often expected to pay up front, on top of covering their salaries, lodging and meals. "When this drags on for months, it can be very difficult for the employer," he added. Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash extended his condolences to the family of Mrs Jane Lee, the late owner of Sumo Salad. ST PHOTO: SHARON SALIM Other SME owners said fraudulent claims are rare. Mr Charles Ho, the owner of On Cheong Jewellery, said bosses who have worked with their employees for a long time usually have a good understanding of their characters. He recalled a staff member who had tripped and fallen at work, and he decided to continue paying her salary even after her hospitalisation leave was exhausted as he trusted her integrity. In a statement on July 21, MOM said employers can approach the ministry for help if they have concerns over fraudulent claims by their employees. MOM said the worker who filed the claim against Sumo Salad was covered under the Work Injury Compensation Act (Wica). Wica allows employees to claim for injuries and occupational diseases that happen at work or as a result of work. But those who abuse the system have previously been taken to task. In 2021, two foreign employees were sentenced to jail for making fraudulent claims under Wica and providing false information to an MOM investigation officer.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
New tie-up offers insurance savings for SMEs committing to workers' health and well-being
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash speaking at the inaugural Tripartite Connect 2025 on July 24. SINGAPORE – Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that invest in the health and well-being of their employees can now enjoy reduced group insurance premiums under a new partnership between the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council and homegrown insurer Singlife. Announced on July 24 by Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash at the inaugural Tripartite Connect 2025, the scheme will give a 10 per cent discount on first-year insurance premiums for SMEs which enrol their staff for health screening and lifestyle coaching under the free Total WSH Programme. 'For SMEs, every cent counts, and such savings can be meaningfully redirected to support business or employee needs,' said Mr Dinesh at the event which gathered SME leaders to look at ways to foster progressive workplace practices. 'I hope this will be a win-win outcome; win for your companies with insurance savings, and win for your employees with better health and wellbeing.' Mr Dinesh was speaking at the launch of Tripartite Connect at Marriot Tang Plaza Hotel. The event was organised by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) and the WSH Council, an agency under the Tripartite Alliance Limited (TAL). In his speech, Mr Dinesh cited an example: an SME with 50 employees would typically spend around $650 per person annually for basic coverage. The 10 per cent discount would translate to $3,250 in savings in the first year. Singlife said in a statement that the incentives will be available until March 31, 2027. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Two soldiers wounded as Thai and Cambodia militaries clash at disputed border Singapore Boy, 15, charged after being caught with vapes 5 times; ordered to stay 2 years at S'pore Boys' Home Business MOM, police probing work injury claim flagged by late Sumo Salad boss Jane Lee: MOS Dinesh World Trump was told he is in Epstein files, Wall Street Journal reports Opinion The US dollar is down, but it has a lot going for it Singapore Singapore Oceanarium will enhance tourism while supporting sustainability: Grace Fu Singapore Ex-COO of Singaporean animal feed company charged with bribing manager at Malaysian firm Singapore Over 1.15 million Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 have claimed SG60 vouchers Mr Christopher Koh, general manager of the WSH Council, said the partnership with Singlife aims to encourage more employers to 'recognise the commercial benefit of investing in employees' health, which is not just good for employees themselves, but also supports businesses' productivity'. Beyond workers' health, Mr Dinesh mphasised that safety and fairness are increasingly crucial to a company's brand and bottom line. 'With strong WSH practices, service delivery is smoother, disruptions are minimised, and costly delays are avoided,' he said. Citing City Developments Limited (CDL) as an example, he said the real estate developer mandates that all its contractors must have at least bizSAFE level 3 certification. BizSAFE is nationally recognised programme designed to help companies build workplace safety and health capabilities. Another example he cited was Galmon (S), a Singapore company providing mobile elevating work platform solutions that has achieved bizSAFE Level Star, the highest tier under the WSH Council's bizSAFE framework. The company has a zero-fatality record over its 40-year history, by cross-training staff and using a low-cost internal system to report near-misses and unsafe acts, Mr Dinesh said. He added that Galmon's experience shows how SMEs can build up safety capabilities in a cost-effective way. Mr Bob Tan, chairman of TAL, said in his speech that as at April, close to 29,000 companies here have attained bizSAFE Level 3 and above. Mr Dinesh also urged SMEs to go further by adopting fair and progressive employment practices to meet the diverse needs of their staff. The Workplace Fairness Act – passed in Parliament in January – will be implemented by 2027. The Act makes it unlawful for employment decisions, such as those related to hiring, dismissal, or performance appraisals, to be based on five protected characteristics: nationality; age; sex, marital status, pregnancy status and caregiving responsibilities; race, religion and language; and disability and mental health conditions. As part of the new requirements under the Act, employers must implement grievance handling processes to facilitate mediation and resolve issues amicably within the firm. 'Doing so not only supports future compliance with the law but also lays the groundwork for a progressive workplace culture anchored in fairness, respect, and inclusivity,' said Mr Dinesh. 'No matter the scale of your enterprise, I urge all SMEs to take the first step towards redefining success through safe, healthy, fair and progressive practices.'
