MOM Penalizes 10 Employers for Biased Job Ads

Clients are reminded to refrain from using any language in job advertisements that could be construed as expressing bias. For the second time this year, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has cracked down on employers for using discriminatory language in job ads. Just two days after announcing new, more stringent regulations for employment passes, MOM has imposed penalties on 10 companies. The penalties include having to post public apologies online for 30 days, and being barred from hiring new foreign workers for seven months.

The penalized employers were found to use various discriminatory statements in their job ads, which included preferences for age, race, nationality or gender. Among the companies are five employment agencies, which may face additional penalties such as demerit points. In March, MOM imposed similar penalties on two other employers for using biased hiring practices.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group in Singapore. For additional information, please contact singapore@bal.com.

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