MOM Responds to Tanjong Pagar Building Collapse & Will Talk to CEOs of Companies Responsible for It

By now, you’ve probably heard of the Tanjong Pagar Building Collapse. If you haven’t, here’s a TLDR of it.

Part of the Fuji Xerox Towers at Tanjong Pagar collapsed on Thursday (15 June) amid its redevelopment. The building’s collapse took the life of a worker at the site—a 20-year-old Indian national named Mr Vinoth Kumar.

You can read more about the building collapse here.

Since the unfortunate incident, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and several other agencies have responded. Here’s what they’ve said.

Ministry of Manpower to Speak to CEOs of Companies Responsible for Tanjong Pagar Building Collapse

For starters, two key companies are responsible for the Tanjong Pagar building collapse.

First, Woh Hup, the occupier of the work site where the incident occurred. Second, Aik Sun Demolition and Engineering, which, as its name suggests, is the company responsible for demolition works. The deceased worker was employed by Aik Sun.

The CEOs of Woh Hup and Aik Sun better clear their schedules ASAP because MOM has just announced that they’ll be speaking to the two chief executives about the incident.

According to the Facebook post of the Senior Minister of State for Manpower, Zaqy Mohamad, both CEOs must “personally account to MOM and take responsibility for rectifications”.

That’s how you know the CEOs are in deep trouble. It’s like having to meet the discipline mistress when you were in primary school.

As MOM has launched an investigation into the building collapse, all ongoing work at the site is to stop.

According to The Straits Times (ST), three MOM officers wearing body cameras were observed entering the cordoned-off work site on Friday (16 June) afternoon. Presumably, these officers were involved in the investigations.

Woh Hup Assisting Authorities with Investigations; Aik Sun Demolition and Engineering Assisting the Deceased’s Family with Compensation

Here’s what Woh Hup and Aik Sun Demolition and Engineering are doing about the incident.

Woh Hup is currently assisting authorities with investigations. It has also contacted the deceased’s family to offer its condolences.

As investigations are ongoing, Woh Hup shared that it could not comment further.

Essentially, “I prefer not to speak. If I speak I’m in big trouble”. 

As for Aik Sun Demolition and Engineering, the company seems to be missing in action to the public eye.

Not only did the company’s management declined to comment on the incident, but the company also deleted everything on its Facebook page.

When ST visited Aik Sun’s office on Friday (16 June) morning, the firm’s management wasn’t there either.

Wow. They’re really going through it.

Regardless, this doesn’t mean that Aik Sun Demolition and Engineering has “ghosted” the deceased’s family and the other parties involved in the Tanjong Pagar building collapse.

According to Mr Zaqy’s Facebook post, Aik Sun is currently assisting the deceased’s next of kin with attaining compensation under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA), which allows workers to claim for work-related injuries without suing “until your pants drop”.

The compensation the deceased’s family may receive is anywhere between $76,000 to $225,000, depending on the deceased’s average monthly earnings and age.

Migrant Workers’ Centre to Provide Assistance to Deceased’s Family and Co-Workers

All hands are on deck when dealing with this incident’s aftermath.

So far, we have MOM, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) involved in dealing with the aftermath of the unfortunate incident.

Now, we also have the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC).

On Thursday (15 June), the MWC shared a Facebook post extending their condolences to the deceased’s family. In the same post, the MWC also shared what they’ll do to assist the parties involved.

First, reaching out to the deceased’s family. The MWC will draw from the Migrant Workers’ Assistance Fund (MWAF) to provide financial assistance to the deceased’s family.

After all, the compensation from WICA, which the deceased’s employer is assisting the deceased’s next of kin in claiming, won’t come immediately.

Funds from the MWAF will tide the deceased’s family over as they await WICA compensation.

Next, the MWC is also reaching out to the deceased’s co-workers. It can’t be easy losing a co-worker to such a workplace accident, and MWC recognises this.

As such, the centre will be offering counselling services to affected co-workers of the deceased and other workers working nearby the accident.

“It is our aim to ensure that no worker is left alone in the aftermath of such distressing incidents, and we stand ready to provide comprehensive assistance,” the centre added.

MOM has also contacted the deceased’s co-workers to provide any assistance they may require.

NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Calls for Comprehensive Investigation into the Incident

When we said “all hands on deck,” we meant it. Even the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has gotten involved.

On Friday (16 June), Melvin Yong, the assistant secretary-general of NTUC, posted on Facebook calling for a comprehensive investigation into the Tanjong Pagar building collapse.

Specifically, Mr Yong emphasised an urgent need to find out why the concrete wall collapsed onto the street.

He shared that the “root causes and contributing factors” must be uncovered by looking into all aspects of the redevelopment project, including “planning, risk assessment, worker training, supervision and compliance with safety regulations”.

If you didn’t know better, with a post like that, you would have assumed that Mr Yong was also trying to run for President.

Mr Yong, also the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Radin Mas Single Member Constituency (SMC), emphasised the high risks associated with demolition projects and, thereby, the need to further enforce workplace safety.

He listed several methods employers or occupiers of work sites may undertake to ensure workplace safety, including reviewing safety guidelines, having a “Safety Time Out” to review existing safety practices and establishing channels for workers to voice safety concerns.

Only by implementing these measures will we be able to minimise the number of workplace fatalities. As Mr Yong said, “[E]very worker deserves a safe workplace”.

With any hope, an incident as tragic as the Tanjong Pagar building collapse won’t happen again.