Sim said he had signed the gazette to speed up the implementation and enforcement of the Act which had been delayed for almost two years.

“So, within 100 days (as minister), I had signed the gazette for the new amendment to take effect,” he told reporters after officiating the World Day for Safety and Health at Work celebration here.

The OSH Act (Amendment) 2022 was passed by Parliament on March 16, 2022.

According to Sim, the enforcement of the Act requires employers to analyse risks in the workplace and appoint a health safety coordinator.

“Companies with five or more employees must appoint a coordinator. The enforcement of this Act has been highly anticipated by the OSH practitioner sector.

“Coordinators are a new thing and through them, we hope the workplace environment will be safer,” he said.

Sim also said a total of 13,000 workers will follow the occupational mental health first aid training programme throughout the country this year.

He said the programme has been well received and 4,000 workers have been trained since it was launched in February.

“We hope that this effort will strengthen occupational safety and health practices in the workplace, as the ministry is also focussed on mental health issues,” he said.