Efforts to Encourage Buyers of Outsourced Services to Abide by Fair Employment Guidelines

30 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Manpower in view of the recent complaints received by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) on tender documents containing discriminatory clauses on race and age, what more can be done to encourage buyers of outsourced services to practise fair employment guidelines.

Dr Tan See Leng: All employers are expected to abide by the principles of fair and merit-based employment set out in the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices (TGFEP). These include recruiting and selecting employees based on merit, irrespective of attributes that have no bearing on the individuals’ ability to do the job, such as race and age. We do not accept employers citing discriminatory requirements by their clients. They will still be considered in breach of the TGFEP.

The Government takes firm enforcement action against discriminatory employers. In the future, with the TGFEP requirements enshrined in law, the Government will be able to take a broader range of actions in the event of a breach, to hold errant employers accountable.

With respect to service buyers, MOM and TAFEP will also continue to follow up on complaints of discriminatory practices in tender documents and engage them. We will also consider suspending the work pass privileges of service buyers or their appointed agents.