Government crackdown on "unfair hiring" on the horizon

How can the Singapore government enforce fair hiring practices?

A member of parliament suggested the government give legal powers to an advocacy group to punish employers who fail at upholding an inclusive hiring policy.

Saktiandi Supaat said that the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) should be given the right to prosecute errant employers.

Currently, TAFEP provides guidelines for employers during various stages of HR processes.

Complaints made by employees would only be referred to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) if further investigations are needed.

TAFEP also works with employers to change their workplace practices and blacklists companies that are unwilling to comply.

If accepted by MOM, the move will particularly help protect local workers as disruption sets in and organisations look for global talent to fill any impending skills gaps, according to Saktiandi.

He highlighted how preferential treatment of foreigners is a common grievance among local workers, reported The Straits Times.

Earlier this year, then manpower minister Lim Swee Say stated that over 350 companies were on a watchlist for unfairly favouring foreigners in their hiring.

Such companies will have their Employment Pass (EP) applications subject to closer scrutiny.

At the time about one-fifths of the companies remained uncooperative. Lim shared that these firms would not get approvals for new EP applications or the renewal of existing passes “until they adopt fair HR practices”.