released earlier this year are any indication, Singapore has done pretty well when it comes to reducing workplace discrimination.
Clarence Ding, a lawyer from Simmons & Simmons who specialises in labour and employment law, said that instances of discrimination against women in the workplace have become less frequent in recent years. He gave several reasons for this.
“With women who just got married, some prospective employers may assume they will likely be absent from work and on maternity leave due to their prospective pregnanices, and quite unacceptably be less keen to hire them,” he said.PROTECTIONS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION Discrimination against women sometimes take the form of harassment, specifically notably sexual harassment.
“So for instance, if a man makes sexually suggestive jokes or comments to a female colleague, in addition to harassment that could also count as both discrimination and harassment because it’s unlikely he would have done the same thing to another man. Targeting a woman because of her physical appearance can ultimately be a form of discrimination too,” he said.
Lim added that if a company is found to have breached the guidelines, it may be slapped with painful sanctions by MOM that could involve the curtailment of work pass privileges. If this happens, the company cannot then apply for new work passes or renew existing ones, for a period of time.