The department said the case occurred on Feb 4 and an internal investigation was launched the same day.

“Disciplinary action was taken against the instructor involved,” it said in a statement to FMT, adding that he had been transferred to its headquarters from Feb 6 to ensure the investigation could proceed without interference.

The department said the students were given counselling immediately after the incident.

It reminded instructors to adopt appropriate teaching methods and avoid action that could trigger similar incidents.

“In the event of a violation, the labour department will not hesitate to take strict action,” it said, while appealing to the public not to circulate the video to protect the students’ privacy.

On Oct 1, a viral video on Facebook showed the alleged incident, with the instructor kneeling on the student’s body and forcefully holding his head, sparking outrage online.

The news portal Majoriti reported that netizens called the instructor excessively harsh, and that his action was inappropriate in a vocational training environment.