Measures to Support Working Adults in Accessing Preventive Health Screenings Through Dedicated Time Off and Employer Incentives
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns measures and incentives to encourage employers to provide workers with dedicated time off for preventive health screenings, as raised by Ms Valerie Lee to the Acting Minister for Manpower. In response, Ms Jasmin Lau stated that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) strongly encourages employers to allow time off for annual Healthier SG check-ins and preventive care appointments. She highlighted that in 2023, MOM, the Ministry of Health, and tripartite partners issued a Tripartite Statement encouraging employers to grant time off for recommended vaccinations and screenings. Additionally, MOM directly supports access through the Workplace Safety and Health Council's free Total Workplace Safety and Health programme, which offers health screening and coaching packages. Finally, MOM and tripartite partners are studying further measures to improve workplace health practices, including encouraging progressive medical benefits as part of the ongoing Employment Act review.
Transcript
62 Ms Valerie Lee asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) what measures can the Ministry take to encourage employers to provide employees with dedicated time off for preventive health screenings, separate from medical leave, particularly for working adults who may defer screenings due to work commitments; and (b) whether incentives or workplace health guidelines can be considered to encourage wider adoption of preventive health screenings.
Ms Jasmin Lau: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) strongly encourages employers to support employees in managing their health proactively, including giving employees time-off for annual Healthier SG check-ins and preventive care appointments. In 2023, in support of Healthier SG, MOM and the Ministry of Health (MOH) worked with tripartite partners to issue a Tripartite Statement, encouraging employers to grant time off for annual check-ins and preventive care appointments (for example, nationally recommended vaccinations and screenings).
MOM also directly supports employee access to preventive health screenings through the Total Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) programme, administered by the WSH Council. This free programme seeks to equip workers with knowledge and provide activity programmes to support their holistic well-being. Participating employers can select from different safety and health activity packages for workers, including health screening and coaching.
Going forward, MOM and its tripartite partners are considering measures to improve workplace health practices. This includes studying how employers can be further encouraged to adopt progressive medical benefits as part of the ongoing Employment Act review. We will provide an update in due course.