Tighter driving rules for foreign workers
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 20 July 2010.
Tighter driving rules for foreign workers
By Kor Kian Beng
Straits Times, Jul 20, 2010
Lorry safety measures also brought forward
Reproduced photo caption: Transport Minister Raymond Lim announced in Parliament yesterday that the deadline for lorries used to transport foreign workers to be retrofitted with canopies and higher side railings has been brought forward from September 2012 to Feb 1 next year for light lorries, and Aug 1 next year for heavy lorries. He also announced that a new licensing scheme with more stringent conditions for foreign worker drivers was in the works. -- ST PHOTO: MALCOLM KOH
THE Government will be more stringent in issuing driving licences to foreign workers.
It will also step up enforcement against foreign worker drivers who flout safety rules by speeding or driving recklessly, and may also take legal action against them and their employers.
The Transport Ministry has also brought forward the deadline for lorries used to transport foreign workers to be retrofitted with canopies and higher side railings, from September 2012 to Feb 1 next year for light lorries, and Aug 1 next year for heavy lorries.
Transport Minister Raymond Lim announced the changes in Parliament yesterday in response to questions from five MPs on the safe transport of foreign workers.
The Manpower and Home Affairs ministries are working on a new licensing scheme with more stringent conditions for foreign worker drivers, and will announce the details when ready, he said.
Currently, work permit holders with valid driving licences from their home countries need only pass a written test and obtain the Manpower Ministry's approval.
As for legal action against employers of foreign worker drivers who flout safety rules, Mr Lim said: 'We recognise that sometimes employers are equally culpable in getting the drivers not to comply with safety rules.'
Both drivers and employers are set to face tougher penalties in the form of higher fines and demerit points.
There has been renewed concern over the safety of foreign workers travelling on lorries after two accidents last month killed three and injured 54.
Yesterday, several MPs welcomed the changes, including Dr Lim Wee Kiak, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport.
Dr Lim asked if the ministry would consider banning the use of lorries on expressways, where most accidents had taken place.
Replying, Mr Lim, the Transport Minister, said a speed limit of 60kmh applied to lorries ferrying workers, and that helped prevent injuries to workers in collisions.
Mr Lim also said a tighter licensing scheme would ensure that foreign workers who doubled as drivers were fully competent and familiar with local roads and driving conditions.
He added that the Land Transport Authority and Traffic Police would also explore the use of technologies and devices to better rein in speeding by lorries used to transport workers.
The efforts put in by all the relevant agencies underscore the Government's concern about the safety of workers transported on lorries, said Mr Lim.
But employers and drivers must also play their part as safety is also their responsibility, he added.
In response to Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Christopher de Souza's query on a ban on the use of lorries, Mr Lim said the current and impending measures would help mitigate the risks to workers.
'We should allow the measures to improve workers' safety on lorries to take effect and study their effectiveness before concluding that they are insufficient and going for a ban,' he told the House.
Mr de Souza also suggested that employers should be made to display at worksites the death and injury toll from road accidents, mirroring work-related statistics seen on billboards at construction worksites.
That would act as a deterrent against errant employers, he said.
Mr Lim said the idea would be passed on to the Manpower Ministry.
The Singapore Road Safety Council, a non-profit group that champions road safety, welcomed the changes.
Its chairman, Mr Bernard Tay, urged employers to ensure that workers who were not employed as drivers did not drive, while those employed as drivers were qualified to drive and did so safely.
Tighter driving rules for foreign workers
By Kor Kian Beng
Straits Times, Jul 20, 2010
Lorry safety measures also brought forward
Reproduced photo caption: Transport Minister Raymond Lim announced in Parliament yesterday that the deadline for lorries used to transport foreign workers to be retrofitted with canopies and higher side railings has been brought forward from September 2012 to Feb 1 next year for light lorries, and Aug 1 next year for heavy lorries. He also announced that a new licensing scheme with more stringent conditions for foreign worker drivers was in the works. -- ST PHOTO: MALCOLM KOHTHE Government will be more stringent in issuing driving licences to foreign workers.
It will also step up enforcement against foreign worker drivers who flout safety rules by speeding or driving recklessly, and may also take legal action against them and their employers.
The Transport Ministry has also brought forward the deadline for lorries used to transport foreign workers to be retrofitted with canopies and higher side railings, from September 2012 to Feb 1 next year for light lorries, and Aug 1 next year for heavy lorries.
Transport Minister Raymond Lim announced the changes in Parliament yesterday in response to questions from five MPs on the safe transport of foreign workers.
The Manpower and Home Affairs ministries are working on a new licensing scheme with more stringent conditions for foreign worker drivers, and will announce the details when ready, he said.
Currently, work permit holders with valid driving licences from their home countries need only pass a written test and obtain the Manpower Ministry's approval.
As for legal action against employers of foreign worker drivers who flout safety rules, Mr Lim said: 'We recognise that sometimes employers are equally culpable in getting the drivers not to comply with safety rules.'
Both drivers and employers are set to face tougher penalties in the form of higher fines and demerit points.
There has been renewed concern over the safety of foreign workers travelling on lorries after two accidents last month killed three and injured 54.
Yesterday, several MPs welcomed the changes, including Dr Lim Wee Kiak, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport.
Dr Lim asked if the ministry would consider banning the use of lorries on expressways, where most accidents had taken place.
Replying, Mr Lim, the Transport Minister, said a speed limit of 60kmh applied to lorries ferrying workers, and that helped prevent injuries to workers in collisions.
Mr Lim also said a tighter licensing scheme would ensure that foreign workers who doubled as drivers were fully competent and familiar with local roads and driving conditions.
He added that the Land Transport Authority and Traffic Police would also explore the use of technologies and devices to better rein in speeding by lorries used to transport workers.
The efforts put in by all the relevant agencies underscore the Government's concern about the safety of workers transported on lorries, said Mr Lim.
But employers and drivers must also play their part as safety is also their responsibility, he added.
In response to Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Christopher de Souza's query on a ban on the use of lorries, Mr Lim said the current and impending measures would help mitigate the risks to workers.
'We should allow the measures to improve workers' safety on lorries to take effect and study their effectiveness before concluding that they are insufficient and going for a ban,' he told the House.
Mr de Souza also suggested that employers should be made to display at worksites the death and injury toll from road accidents, mirroring work-related statistics seen on billboards at construction worksites.
That would act as a deterrent against errant employers, he said.
Mr Lim said the idea would be passed on to the Manpower Ministry.
The Singapore Road Safety Council, a non-profit group that champions road safety, welcomed the changes.
Its chairman, Mr Bernard Tay, urged employers to ensure that workers who were not employed as drivers did not drive, while those employed as drivers were qualified to drive and did so safely.
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