Discrimination against Employees with Mental Conditions

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked the Acting Minister for Manpower whether there have been reports of discrimination against employees with a mental condition or disorder and, if so, how many such cases have been reported in the last 10 years and to what extent is the reported discrimination.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: Since its formation in 2007, the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP) has so far received four complaints of perceived discrimination against workers with a mental health condition out of a total of around 1,000 complaints received.

We encourage any person who encounters employment discrimination to approach TAFEP for advice and assistance. Where TAFEP believes that there is a basis to the complaint, TAFEP will look into the issue and, if necessary, advise the employer to make adjustments to its employment practices to be in line with the principles of fair employment. Employers have been receptive to such advice and made the required adjustments to their practices, such as their recruitment methods.