Singapore
Singapore is hot all year round, and it already had a set of recommendations for working outside in the heat. From 1 December 2026, four of them become law. Employers with outdoor workers must provide:
- Suitable clothing. Depending on the job and the risk, that can mean loose, breathable clothing that wicks away sweat and dries quickly.
- Cool drinking water close to where people work, so nobody has to walk far for a drink.
- Emergency cooling on site, like ice packs or water sprays, in case someone starts to overheat.
- Heat training, so workers know the warning signs in themselves and in their colleagues.
What was already there
These come on top of rules Singapore already had. Employers must measure the heat in a way that includes humidity, sun and wind, not just the temperature. They must give rest breaks in the shade, let new workers get used to the heat slowly over their first days, and have an emergency plan. With the new rules, there are now 11 heat measures that employers must follow. Companies that break them can be fined or have their work stopped.
The government also now recommends cooled or well-ventilated rest areas. That one is advice, not law.
Why it matters
The big change here is the clothing. Workwear is now part of the heat rules. A uniform is no longer just a shirt with a logo on it. It’s part of keeping people safe.
Singapore isn’t the only country looking at heat at work. Summers are getting hotter almost everywhere, and other countries are likely to follow with rules of their own.
Sources: MOM press release, 28 August 2026 · WSH Council announcement · The Star / Straits Times
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