By More Singaporeans are concerned that employers are favouring foreigners over locals.
According to the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (Tafep), an organisation committed to fair hiring practices in Singapore, such complaints have emerged as the top issue for the first time since 2007.
In its annual report released on Wednesday, Tafep said that the top three types of complaints in 2011 were related to nationality, language and race, and age.
This is in comparison to complaints received in previous years, which pertained mostly to language, race and age.
The report also noted the increasing number of complaints over unfair employment practices in general, with 277 recorded in 2011 as compared to 115 in 2010. In 2007, there were only 9 complaints.
These report findings reflect Singaporeans’ concerns over declining job prospects in the face of an influx of foreign talent and an unstable economy, Tafep said.
A recent global survey in February by research firm Nielsen also revealed that 55 per cent of Singaporeans are concerned about their future job prospects.
Tafep was launched in 2006 by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the National Trades Union Congress and Singapore National Employers Federation to promote fair employment practices. However, it does not have the legal clout to act against discriminatory complaints and relies on persuasion to get employers’ compliance.
A clip of a man hitting an office worker – who appears to be an employee under his supervision - has gone viral in Singapore, sparking outrage and calls for the authorities to step in.