Complaints of and Action Taken against Employment Discrimination

Debated in Parliament on 6 Jan 2020.

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Assoc Prof Walter Theseira questioned whether employers refusing to interview or hire qualified job applicants due to religious attire violate fair employment guidelines, requested data on TAFEP complaints about religious wear discrimination over five years broken down by industry, and asked about actions taken against such employers.
Mrs Josephine Teo confirmed that the Tripartite Guidelines require hiring based on merit and allow religious wear unless specific uniform or safety requirements exist, which must be clearly communicated, and noted TAFEP received 16 such complaints in five years, less than 1% of total complaints.
Most complaints stemmed from insensitivity in communicating dress codes, all employers complied with TAFEP’s advice to rectify practices, and TAFEP investigates all discrimination complaints and works with the Ministry of Manpower for enforcement on substantiated cases.

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Assoc Prof Walter Theseira

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the refusal by employers in the retail sector to interview and/or hire a qualified job applicant on grounds that he or she wears articles of religious faith constitutes a violation of the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices; (b) how many complaints of discrimination on these grounds has TAFEP received in the past five years, broken down by industry; and (c) what actions has TAFEP taken against these employers.

Mrs Josephine Teo

All employers are expected to abide by the principles of fair employment practices set out in the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices (TGFEP), which makes it clear that recruitment and hiring practices are to be based on merit and the ability to perform the job. Religious wear should generally be allowed at workplaces, unless employers have uniform or dress code requirements which are suited to the nature of their work, or for operational and safety reasons. Such requirements should then be communicated and explained clearly to employees as well as job applicants.

In the past five years, the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) received a total of 16 complaints related to the wearing of religious articles, or less than 1% of all the complaints received. Table 1 shows the breakdown by industry of the complaints received.

Most complaints arose due to insensitivity on the part of the employer or interviewer in communicating company’s dress code and practices. All the employers have heeded TAFEP's advice and made the necessary rectifications to their employment practices.

TAFEP investigates all complaints of workplace discrimination, including unreasonable restrictions against religious wear, and will work with the Ministry of Manpower to take enforcement actions against substantiated complaints.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira questioned whether employers refusing to interview or hire qualified job applicants due to religious attire violate fair employment guidelines, requested data on TAFEP complaints about religious wear discrimination over five years broken down by industry, and asked about actions taken against such employers.
Mrs Josephine Teo confirmed that the Tripartite Guidelines require hiring based on merit and allow religious wear unless specific uniform or safety requirements exist, which must be clearly communicated, and noted TAFEP received 16 such complaints in five years, less than 1% of total complaints.
Most complaints stemmed from insensitivity in communicating dress codes, all employers complied with TAFEP’s advice to rectify practices, and TAFEP investigates all discrimination complaints and works with the Ministry of Manpower for enforcement on substantiated cases.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Complaints of and Action Taken against Employment Discrimination

Debated in Parliament on 6 Jan 2020.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira questioned whether employers refusing to interview or hire qualified job applicants due to religious attire violate fair employment guidelines, requested data on TAFEP complaints about religious wear discrimination over five years broken down by industry, and asked about actions taken against such employers.
Mrs Josephine Teo confirmed that the Tripartite Guidelines require hiring based on merit and allow religious wear unless specific uniform or safety requirements exist, which must be clearly communicated, and noted TAFEP received 16 such complaints in five years, less than 1% of total complaints.
Most complaints stemmed from insensitivity in communicating dress codes, all employers complied with TAFEP’s advice to rectify practices, and TAFEP investigates all discrimination complaints and works with the Ministry of Manpower for enforcement on substantiated cases.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira

Mrs Josephine Teo

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira questioned whether employers refusing to interview or hire qualified job applicants due to religious attire violate fair employment guidelines, requested data on TAFEP complaints about religious wear discrimination over five years broken down by industry, and asked about actions taken against such employers.
Mrs Josephine Teo confirmed that the Tripartite Guidelines require hiring based on merit and allow religious wear unless specific uniform or safety requirements exist, which must be clearly communicated, and noted TAFEP received 16 such complaints in five years, less than 1% of total complaints.
Most complaints stemmed from insensitivity in communicating dress codes, all employers complied with TAFEP’s advice to rectify practices, and TAFEP investigates all discrimination complaints and works with the Ministry of Manpower for enforcement on substantiated cases.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Complaints of and Action Taken against Employment Discrimination | PAPERCUTS

Complaints of and Action Taken against Employment Discrimination

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Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira

Mrs Josephine Teo

Summary

Questions Identified

Complaints of and Action Taken against Employment Discrimination

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira

Mrs Josephine Teo

Summary

Questions Identified