10 more firms taken to task for discriminatory job adverts
SINGAPORE: The Manpower Ministry (MOM) has taken action against 10 more companies for discriminatory job advertisements.
It said investigations found that their advertisements were not aligned with the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices issued by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP).
The offending companies are PSC Biotech Pte Ltd, Winshire Education Centre, Dr.Ci:Labo Pte Ltd, Modern Pak Pte Ltd, Global Citizen Forum, Youbook Pte Ltd, Accredit HR Consultancy, Stafflink Services Pte Ltd, Sky Asia Consulting Pte Ltd, Zingmi Pte Ltd.
In one case, the company had advertised for the position of a full-time teacher, indicating "preferably Malaysians with teaching experience" as a requirement.
In another, the company advertised for the position of a director who must be "aged around 30 years."
The ministry said the companies have been told to put up online public apologies for 30 days -- which they have done. They have also been barred from hiring new foreign workers for six months following the publication of these apologies.
This brings the total number of companies the ministry has taken action against for discriminatory hiring practices since March to 12.
In March 2013, MOM took action against two companies -- Incofood Singapore and Expedia Singapore. Both companies put up public apologies as suggested by MOM.
Under the Tripartite Guidelines, employers who advertise a position requiring a specific attribute which may be viewed as discriminatory should ensure that the attribute is indeed a requirement of the job, and state the reason for the requirement in the advertisement.
For example, words or phrases that exclude Singaporeans or indicate preference for non-Singaporeans and those that exclude or indicate a preference for a certain age group or gender should not be used in job advertisements. -
CNA/ac
