Tag Archives: Job Discrimination

At a 23 Aug 2020 virtual event organised by East Coast grassroots advisers, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Heng Swee Keat responded to criticisms that free trade agreements (FTAs) or Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreements (CECA) had caused Singaporeans to lose out in job opportunities. He warned that such statements about Singapore signing away jobs protection for Singaporeans were "totally false." Despite his attempt to convince naysayers, many netizens were in disbelief and some even wanted concrete proof for his statements.

The Covid19 pandemic has impacted Singapore's economy and one urgent concern among Singaporeans is job security. While MOM promises greater scrutiny of hiring practices, some netizens have expressed concerns about the current state of affairs. Netizens have shared personal accounts of possible unfair hiring practices where permits continue to be handed out to foreigners.

After talking to Terry Xu, Chief Editor of theonlinecitizen, which has done numerous stories on foreigners competing with Singaporeans for jobs, having made enquiries in Singapore, Asean and Asian countries – there is apparently some “funny things” going on in HR recruitment – leading to discrimination against Singaporeans.

Cases of discrimination by nationality made up half of about 300 complaints in all. However, TAFEP general manager Roslyn Ten said many stem from misunderstanding and not from genuine bias, and urged companies to improve communication with job seekers or existing employees by explaining why, for example, foreigners instead of Singaporeans were hired or promoted.