Fair chances for all S’poreans

Keeping the country safe: Workers wiping down doors at a train station in Singapore. — Reuters

COMPANIES will not be allowed to practise wanton discrimination against local workers because in the current difficult economic climate, it is “all the more important” that Singaporeans are given fair opportunities to find meaningful work, said Second Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng in Parliament.He told the House yesterday that officers of the Manpower Ministry were working “doubly hard” to ensure that employers did not discriminate against local workers.

They were also stepping up scrutiny and enforcement actions against those who blatantly practise it.Tan added that the government would give Singaporean jobseekers a stronger boost “by working with businesses to give more serious consideration to Singaporeans when hiring, especially those willing to adjust their expectations and adapt”.At the same time, businesses in Singapore were expected to strive harder in strengthening their Singaporean core, he said in his maiden speech in Parliament.