The Ministry of Manpower announced today that all employment agencies in Singapore will have to meet new licence conditions to strengthen fair hiring practices.
All licensed employment agencies must not in any way abet discriminatory hiring by their clients, such as by withholding applications based on age, race, nationality, gender and disability. This is to ensure fair hiring and attract more locals for job vacancies.
They will also have to reject requests from clients to carry out discriminatory hiring.
In addition to helping clients fulfill job advertising requirements, employment agencies must also “make reasonable efforts” to attract Singaporeans for vacancies and consider all applicants based on merit, said MOM.
This new law will take effect from October and all those who do not comply will get their licenses revoked or suspended.