Mechanism to Allow Employees to Provide Anonymous Reports on Workplace Discrimination

14 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the reporting mechanisms under the new workplace discrimination laws will allow employees to provide anonymous reports to the Ministry or the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices against errant employers; and (b) if not, whether the Ministry has undertaken a study of such a reporting mechanism.

The Senior Minister of State for Manpower (Dr Koh Poh Koon) (for the Minister for Manpower): Sir, the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) will follow up on anonymous reports under the planned Workplace Fairness Legislation on a best-efforts basis, similar to all other complaints of workplace discrimination today. TAFEP does not disclose the employee's identity to the employer. And to further reassure employees, the proposed legislation will require employers to implement processes to handle grievances by employees and protect the employees' identity. It will also prohibit employers from retaliating against employees.