More firms implementing fair employment practices

More employers have committed to implementing fair employment practices and participated in training workshops and seminars on this topic — a sign of the progress made by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) over the years.

And, added Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin yesterday, although laws and regulations can be used in some instances to ensure fair employment, moral suasion will remain a mainstay of the efforts of the tripartite partners.

“Some would feel that we need to take harder measures. I think in certain instances, regulations and laws can be put in place. It becomes a bit tricky when you want to use these things to change mindsets. Once you go down the legal route, it becomes very hard-line,” he said at the TAFEP Exemplary Employer Award presentation ceremony yesterday.

The number of employers who have pledged to implement fair employment practices grew to 2,600 last year, from 200 in 2006. The number of participants who attended training workshops and seminars organised by TAFEP has also more than doubled from 2,725 in 2008 to 5,752 last year.

Mr Tan noted that there were more submissions for the TAFEP Exemplary Employer Award from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) this year — from 15 in 2012 to 36 this year. “I see this as an encouraging signal that not only the bigger companies can adopt fair employment practices, but SMEs can do it too,” he said.

As the labour market continues to remain tight, organisations should make better use of progressive hiring practices to better attract and retain workers, Mr Tan added.

The TAFEP was previously known as the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices. Its new name, in use since this month, reflects its expanded focus on progressive employment practices.