Tripartite Partners Develop New Guidelines to Address Workplace Sensitivities

Additional recommendations are being added to the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices (TGFEP) to help employers and employees better manage workplace sensitivities.

The Government, Singapore National Employers Federation and NTUC gave the update through a joint release on 30 January 2023.

The tripartite partners said that the enhanced guidelines emphasise the “importance of building and maintaining a harmonious workplace, where individuals of different backgrounds, abilities and beliefs continue to feel valued, engaged, and respected.”

The TGFEP will be enhanced by mid-February 2023.

Guidelines that Bolster Inclusivity

Tripartite partners have added five new best practices to the TGFEP.

Employers must (1) be sensitive to all their workers’ cultures, values and beliefs when developing, promoting or implementing events, programmes and policies unrelated to work.

When garnering support for any cause, this should (2) not lead to bullying, harassment, or ostracism at the workplace.

Employers need to ensure that a workplace is safe for their employees, with a proper grievance handling process in place for workers to raise their concerns.

On hiring and promoting, employees should (3) be assessed on their performance and work-related requirements only.

Employees should (4) not be required to or pressured to participate in events, programmes and policies unrelated to work.

Employees who choose not to attend such activities should not be penalised for their non-attendance.

And lastly, employers should (5) continue to demonstrate and communicate the importance of an inclusive and harmonious workplace.

Employers who wish to enquire more about these new guidelines or employees who want to report instances of non-compliance may reach out to the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP).

The Ministry of Manpower may curtail the work pass privileges of employers who fail to uphold the new guidelines.

The Labour Movement Responds

Taking to Facebook, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Patrick Tay said that the guidelines underscore the importance of building and maintaining a harmonious workplace for all workers of different backgrounds, abilities and beliefs.

“NTUC does not tolerate, condone nor approve of any discriminatory and unfair practices in the workplace and will not hesitate to red-flag such practices,” he said.

Besides TAFEP, Mr Tay added that union members who wish to report instances of non-compliance with the TGFEP can also reach out to their individual unions or union leaders.