The Straits Times says

A level playing field for local workers

New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

Singapore workers would be dismayed to learn that 500 companies had to be put on a watch list over the past two years for having favoured foreigners unfairly in their hiring. Why are these firms resorting to such practices? After all, simple business sense should have dictated that the best person for the job should be hired. Instead, some employers believe that local professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) are either unable or unwilling to do the job, and so they write them off without proper consideration.

There are measures in place to prevent such malpractices. The Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices enjoin on employers the need to make reasonable efforts to attract and consider Singaporeans for job positions on merit, and to train and develop their potential and careers. The efforts include ensuring that jobs advertised are open to Singaporeans. It is pointless to abide by this rule just formally, and to later discard job applications by locals out of hand.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 09, 2018, with the headline A level playing field for local workers. Subscribe