WFH concerns among issues raised at dialogue on workplace fairness

Panellists touch on efficacy, requirements of proposed Bill to protect workers against biases

- Tay Hong Yi

Would an employer need to extend alternative leave or remote work arrangements it offered one staff member to all other staff who ask for it to avoid seeming discriminatory? This was among questions employers, human resource practitioners and workers asked panellists in a 1/2-hour dialogue that touched on the impact, requirements and efficacy of proposed workplace fairness legislation on Thursday.

On the panel were Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Senior Minister of State for Manpower; Ms Cham Hui Fong, deputy secretary-general of National Trades Union Congress; and Mr Edwin Ng, honorary secretary of the Singapore National Employers Federation.

All three are members of the Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness, which released on Feb 13 an interim report on recommendations for the proposed Bill to protect workers against biases based on nationality, age and others, as well as new penalties on errant employers.

Attended by more than 200 people, the session at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel was moderated by Institute for Human Resource Professionals chief executive Aslam Sardar.