FAIR HIRING

If you have ever been a victim of discrimination, you will completely understand why we must not tolerate it anywhere and especially at the workplace.

Years ago when I was expecting my first child, a well-meaning senior warned that my career progression might come to a standstill. People would assume I was no longer interested in taking on challenging assignments, or that I would no longer be able to cope. Huh?

Fortunately, my other bosses were more enlightened. Fellow MP Mr Lee Yi Shyan, for example, encouraged me to telecommute after my twins were born, long before work-from-home and the technology was mature. He did not, for one minute, assume pregnancy made me any less of a person. Thank goodness for Yi Shyan.

But what I’d encountered is nothing compared to what some others have experienced with discrimination. Assumptions about what people can or cannot do because of their gender, family status, age, race, disability – they haven’t gone away. Unfortunately, these assumptions become invisible barriers for their victims to get into jobs or to advance in their careers, much to their own detriment and actually that of employers.

This is why earlier this year, the Ministry of Manpower strengthened the Fair Consideration Framework and raised penalties for all forms of discrimination. We will investigate all complaints that come to our attention. Errant employers may have their work pass privileges suspended, and may even be prosecuted for legal violations.

We are further leaning forward. Today, about three in 10 vacant positions in Singapore are filled by employment agencies (EAs). There are about 3,900 licensed EAs. Most help to uphold fair hiring but every year, we still get about 20 complaints. Clearly, there’s scope to bring EAs on board to uphold fair hiring.

This morning, I met with representatives from several EAs. They had provided inputs earlier to my colleagues at MOM on the new licence conditions for EAs which we are announcing today. As what Adeline, Executive Director and Chief Legal Officer from HRnet One shared, “The licencing of EAs gives us a lever to say that we can get the individual consultants also to be responsible to ensure there’re no discriminatory practices.” Am heartened that Adeline and the other representatives are supportive and recognise the important role EAs play in supporting their clients to uphold fair hiring.

To be implemented from 1 Oct, the new conditions require EAs to turn down requests or instructions by their clients to carry out discriminatory hiring.  

At the same time, we recognise the importance of EAs in helping Singaporeans find suitable jobs. As such, MOM will be partnering progressive EAs to place locals into jobs and traineeships. 

Fairness is a value we can all relate to. Fight unfair hiring like we would Covid-19. Stop it from spreading and “quarantine” errant employers and intermediaries by putting them out of circulation. - Jo Teo

[Read more at: https://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/2020/0622-new-licence-conditions-for-employment-agencies-to-strengthen-fair-hiring]