SINGAPORE: The Manpower Ministry (MOM) has employment laws in place to penalise discriminatory practices related to age and gender, Minister of State for Manpower Teo Ser Luck said in Parliament on Monday (May 9).

He was responding to a question from Mr Leon Perera. The Non-Constituency Member of Parliament had asked how the ministry addresses referrals from the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) about employers who may be engaging in discriminatory HR practices that are not related to nationality, but to other attributes such as age and gender.

Mr Teo cited two Acts which protect against age and gender discrimination.

“We have employment laws that enforce against employers with discriminatory practices on age and gender. Under the Retirement and Re-employment Act, an employer cannot dismiss and employee on the grounds of age,” Mr Teo said.

“The Employment Act and Child Co-Savings Development Act also protect female employees from being dismissed without sufficient cause during any stage of their pregnancy.”

The Minister of State also said that TAFEP takes an active role in looking into complaints of unfair employment practices, and refers cases to MOM if they are found to be true.

“MOM takes a serious view of all forms of employment discrimination, and if employers are found to have engaged in such unfair employment practices, MOM will take appropriate enforcement action under the RRA, or Retirement and Re-employment Act, or Child Co-savings Development Act,” said Mr Teo.

He added that MOM can also suspend their workpass privileges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, and that any employee who feels discriminated against can approach TAFEP for assistance.