Koh Poh Koon on Workplace Fairness legislation to root out discrimination

Over the years, the number of complaints of workplace discrimination has fallen but the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) still received about 315 complaints of discrimination a year over the last five years. The most common types of discrimination complaints received were on nationality, age, sex, race and language. Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon, who said this in reply to MPs’ questions in Parliament on Monday (Jul 3), stressed that the proposed Workplace Fairness legislation aims to provide protection against the common and familiar forms of workplace discrimination, including the ones he mentioned. He said the proposed legislation is a significant step forward in strengthening protection for workers from discrimination, as well as fair employment practices and outcomes. It builds on progressive efforts by tripartite partners over the years to enhance workplace fairness through a range of education and enforcement efforts and will send a strong signal against workplace discrimination, he added. Dr Koh said this is increasingly important in view of Singapore’s ageing population and marriage and parenthood efforts. He said the steps have to be precise and clear, leaving little scope for subjective interpretation, and ensure that legislation will benefit workers, employers and society. Dr Koh said rooting out discrimination is a whole-of-society effort. It requires knowledge, understanding and ownership by employers and the support from employees. “The Workplace Fairness legislation will significantly strengthen our stand against discrimination while maintaining a workplace culture that is harmonious and not litigious,” he said.