Response to Recommendations in Report on Transportation of Migrant Workers on Lorries
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns recommendations from the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics report to remove Road Traffic Act exceptions for transporting workers on lorries and provide transport subsidies. Mr Ong Hua Han asked if the Government would adopt these measures and operationalise bus transport within implementation timelines of 18 to 36 months for firms. Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat replied that it is not operationally possible to ban the practice as it would severely impact small- and medium-sized enterprises. He noted that such a ban could lead to business closures, job losses, and higher costs, though agencies continue to study alternative modes of transportation. The Ministry of Transport remains focused on working with stakeholders to improve the safety of transportation for workers in a sustainable and effective manner.
Transcript
64 Mr Ong Hua Han asked the Minister for Transport whether the Government will consider accepting the recommendations in the recent Report on the Transportation of Migrant Workers on Lorries by the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics to (i) remove the exception under section 126(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act with implementation timelines of 18 months for larger firms and 36 months for smaller firms (ii) provide transport subsidies for firms to adjust to the change and (iii) work with industry partners to operationalise bus transport for migrant workers.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: The reply will also address a related question filed by Ms He Ting Ru for a subsequent Sitting.
Improving the safety of all road users is a priority for the Ministry of Transport. We had explained during the 26 February 2025 Sitting that it is not operationally possible to ban the transportation of workers on the back of lorries. [Please refer to "Stakeholders' Feedback on Safety of Transporting Workers on Back of Lorries and Suggestions to Ban This", Official Report, 26 February 2025, Vol 95, Issue 153, Oral Answers to Questions section.]
Doing so will have a serious impact on many small- and medium-sized enterprises who may have to cease operations, leading to job losses for workers, project delays and higher costs for Singaporeans. This is why agencies have been engaging companies to understand the challenges of shifting to other modes of transportation to see how best to scale the adoption of alternative modes in a sustainable, safe and effective manner.
We continue to work closely with the industry and other Government agencies to improve the safety of transportation for our workers, which is the crux of the matter.