Opening address at City Developments Limited Staff Seminar Green Building, Decarbonisation and Safety cum EHS Awards 2025

Minister of State for Manpower, Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel

Mr Abu Bakar Mohd Nor, Chairman, Workplace Safety and Health Council

Mr Sherman Kwek, Group CEO and senior management of City Developments Limited,

Ladies and gentlemen.

1 Good morning everyone. It’s my pleasure to be here with you today.

2 I would like to thank City Developments Limited (CDL) for inviting me to this seminar. It’s heartening to see CDL bringing together its staff and partners to celebrate achievements in green building, decarbonisation, and workplace safety and health (or WSH). These are not just corporate milestones -- they also are national priorities that reflect our shared commitment to building a safer, more sustainable Singapore.

3 Let me begin by sharing some encouraging news on Singapore’s WSH performance We recently announced that our workplace fatality rate has dropped below 1 per 100,000 workers. Of course, as I always say, every single fatality is one too many, but we are trending in the right direction. We’re also at 15.5 per 100,000 for major injuries — the lowest we’ve seen in many years

4 All of this is thanks to the efforts of partners like CDL. Without companies such as CDL and your contractors, it would be very difficult for us to achieve such stellar results.

5 It’s truly a collective effort across our WSH ecosystem. These are positive statistics but at the same time, we must continue to stay vigilant and strive for improvement.

6 Now, CDL is indeed a WSH Advocate — so I’m kind of preaching to the converted here! You’ve integrated safety assessments and incentive structures into your work, extending these standards to your contractors and subcontractors. That has allowed CDL to prioritise contractors with exemplary safety records in your projects.

7 Through CDL’s monthly third-party audits under the Five-Star Environmental, Health and Safety Assessment Programme, you’re also fostering a culture of learning and accountability.

8 Your annual Five-Star EHS Seminar where all findings are shared is a testament to your leadership in driving industry-wide improvement.

9 Thanks to your efforts, many of your main contractors have achieved bizSAFE Star certification and Safety and Health Award Recognition for Projects (SHARP).

10 As developers, your impact begins well before construction even starts. You’ve adopted Design-for-Safety principles at the planning stage, proactively eliminating risks at the source and that’s something I want to commend you for.

11 At the individual level, each of you has a role to play in advancing WSH excellence.

12 I want to highlight one such person Mr Nigel See one of today’s award recipients, who exemplifies how innovation and ownership can transform safety culture.

13 I’m told he has digitised the incident reporting process to allow faster reporting, greater accountability, and better data sharing which means timely interventions to keep workplaces safe.

14 He also developed digital reference materials and launched an internal EHS bulletin where weekly safety tips and updates are shared. That’s absolutely fantastic. Nigel, thank you very much for your support.

15 I’m sure there are many “Nigels” in this room - People who champion EHS in your roles, share ideas, and lead by example.

16 When individuals take ownership, we strengthen our safety culture within organisations and that, in turn, contributes to our larger national goals.

17 Beyond workplace safety, another key national goal is achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

18 Again, CDL has been a steadfast contributor to Singapore’s decarbonisation journey from pioneering green building practices, integrating low-carbon technologies, and to embracing energy-efficient design.

19 Through your pursuit of BCA Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy standards, and active participation in the Singapore Green Building Council’s Zero Energy Challenge, CDL is helping to shape a climate-resilient future while inspiring industry-wide change. This is truly remarkable.

20 As we look ahead, let’s remember that progress in green building, decarbonisation, and workplace safety isn’t just about meeting targets. It’s about shaping a future where our people can thrive, our environment is protected, and our shared purpose drives progress.

21 In other words, decarbonisation, green building, and workplace safety and health are not three separate topics, but really one and the same - all about lifting Singapore to a higher plane.

22 It’s about ensuring that the reputation of Singapore remains high among international audiences, when they look at us as a shining beacon of what it means to be a successful, sustainable, and safe city.

23 I wish you all the very best for your seminar today, and once again, congratulations to all award winners.

24 Thank you very much.