MOM takes action against 15 companies for discriminatory job ads

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has taken action against 15 companies after investigations found their job advertisements to be discriminatory, said the MOM today (Nov 28).

The companies could not provide valid justifications for listing discriminatory attributes pertaining to age, gender and nationality, and restricting their recruitment to exclusive groups. Such instances included “Prefer Chinese Race” or “Must be Filipino” as a job requirement.

Between July and this month, the employers posted public apologies online for 30 days as part of the penalty. They were also barred from hiring new foreign workers during this 30-day period, as well as for six months following the publication of their apologies.

In September, the MOM took action against 10 other companies. Since March, the MOM has taken action against 27 companies for discriminatory hiring practices.

Investigations into companies highlighted as having discriminatory practices or advertisements are ongoing, said the MOM.

Companies’ job advertisements are expected to align with the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices. Under the Tripartite Guidelines, employers who advertise a position requiring a specific attribute should ensure that it is indeed a requirement of the job, and state the reason for the requirement in the advertisement.