DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SINGAPORE WORKERS BY FOREIGN BOSSES

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SINGAPORE WORKERS BY FOREIGN BOSSES

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(Complaints): **

23.

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Manpower if his Ministry will set up a bureau to receive complaints of cases where Singapore workers are discriminated against in their application for jobs by foreign bosses.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: The Ministry of Manpower already has a department to receive and look into complaints of discrimination faced by job-seekers or workers. If MOM finds that discriminatory practices are being employed, it will take appropriate action against the employer. This includes issuing a warning, counselling or other administrative measures.

The number of complaints related to employment discrimination each year is relatively small, and has remained stable over the past few years. MOM received 68 such cases in 2006. None of the cases concern an employer or manager who is a foreigner. If Mr Chiam is aware of any such case, I would encourage him to advise the job-seeker concerned to make a complaint to MOM, so that the case can be looked into.

To promote greater awareness of fair employment practices, the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP), comprising key representatives from employers, unions and the Government, was formed in May 2006. It is co-chaired by Mr Bob Tan, Vice President SNEF/Council Member SBF, and Mdm Halimah Yacob, Assistant Secretary General NTUC. About 300 companies representing a broad spectrum of employers have responded to the recent TAFEP initiative to endorse an employer’s Pledge of Fair Employment Practices. I would like to encourage more employers to do so.

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