READ MORE: Singapore takes workplace discrimination ‘very seriously’

Singapore’s anti-discrimination framework

While Singapore does not have a framework of dedicated anti-discrimination legislation, this area of employment is nonetheless subject to regulation, primarily in the form of the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices (Fair Employment Guidelines).

The Fair Employment Guidelines apply to employment practices such as recruitment and hiring, performance management, and dismissals.

In the recruitment and hiring context, the Employment Guidelines require employers to recruit and select employees on the basis of merit and to not apply any discriminatory criteria. 

According to the Tripartite Guidelines, such discriminatory criteria are age, gender, race, religion, language, nationality (particularly if a preference for non-Singaporeans is shown), marital status and family responsibilities.

As with other guidelines and advisories issued by the Tripartite Partners, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) monitors compliance with the Fair Employment Guidelines and may take enforcement action if necessary in the event of non-compliance.