Singapore to make cool water and breathable clothing mandatory for outdoor workers from Dec 1
Singapore's Ministry of Manpower will mandate that employers provide cool drinking water, breathable clothing, and emergency ice packs for outdoor workers starting December 1. These measures aim to mitigate heat-related health risks in the tropical climate.
Why it matters
As global temperatures rise, labor regulations regarding heat stress are becoming a critical health and safety issue for outdoor industries.
Employers are also recommended to provide shaded rest areas that are well-ventilated and well-insulated or cooled.
Construction workers taking a break at the rest area with fans and an insulated roof on Aug 28, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari)
Davina Tham 28 Aug 2026 03:30PM (Updated: 28 Aug 2026 07:27PM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a new cards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST SINGAPORE: Outdoor workers must have cool drinking water, clothes suited to hot climates, emergency ice packs and training as part of new requirements to protect them from heat-related risks from Dec 1.
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