Step up efforts to improve companies’ HR practices

I refer to the report “Surbana’s labelling of sacked staff as poor performers ‘unacceptable’” (Feb 8).

This incident brings up the bad human resource practices some companies have in Singapore.

Other cases of bad management could have gone unreported in companies with a majority of foreign employees who just sat their contracts out and returned to their home countries.

It is more appalling in Surbana’s case, however, as it is a government-linked company, which I expect to have better human resource (HR) management. The authorities should step up efforts to improve the way some companies manage their operations and to educate them on progressive HR practices.

I once worked in a company that used to be listed here that had a six-month salary penalty for workers who terminated their contract early. Needless to say, this company had a poor work culture and HR management.

The authority should consider outlawing such contract terms.