NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng said the new Workplace Fairness (Dispute Resolution) Bill is a big step forward for workers who face unfair treatment at work.
Speaking in Parliament on November 4, Mr Ng said the Bill will make it easier and faster for workers to seek redress when they suffer discrimination in hiring, promotion or dismissal.
Fairness should be based on skills and performance
Mr Ng said NTUC believes that every worker deserves a fair chance to succeed. He added that:
“Fairness must rest on skills, performance and potential, not on personal traits that have no bearing on a person’s ability to do a job.”
He shared that from 2020 to 2021, as part of the SNEF-NTUC PME Taskforce, NTUC spoke with more than 10,000 PMEs, employers and stakeholders. Many mature PMEs over 40 told the team they were passed over because of age or nationality, which caused them to doubt their own value and confidence.
He said he was heartened that after years of effort by NTUC and its tripartite partners, the Workplace Fairness Act was passed earlier this year to strengthen protection against discrimination.
Mediation is the first step to solving disputes
Mr Ng said NTUC supports the mediation-first, judge-led approach to resolving workplace fairness disputes under the Bill. He explained that this approach allows workers and employers to understand each other’s perspectives and explore an amicable settlement early.
He also pointed out that the Employment Claims Tribunal (ECT)’s judge-led approach will help workers navigate the claims process without needing costly legal representation. Citing the MOM 2024 Employment Standards Report, he noted that more than 80 per cent of employment claims were resolved at TADM within two months, with more than 90 per cent of claimants fully recovering their salaries and payments.
He said this trusted system encourages employers to reflect on their own practices and uphold fairness at every stage of employment. When workers can raise issues safely and employers know what fairness requires, workplace culture improves for everyone.
Unions will continue to help workers
Mr Ng said many workers may feel anxious about facing the process alone and reminded them that
“If you are a union member, you will not have to face this alone. NTUC and our unions are here to guide you every step of the way, from the moment a dispute arises, through mediation, and if needed, all the way to the ECT.”
He shared that around 95 per cent of workplace disputes surfaced to NTUC-affiliated unions are resolved at the company level, avoiding the need for further escalation. He added that he was glad that the Bill recognises and affirms the vital role played by unions.
“With the ECT claims limit being raised to $250,000 for workplace fairness claims, our unions can now support and represent even more members, including more of the PMEs,” he continued.
To prepare for the new law, NTUC’s Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute is working with TAFEP and the Singapore Mediation Centre to train union leaders and industrial relations officers to handle workplace fairness claims, including mediation and legal support for complex cases.
Helping workers and employers understand the law
Mr Ng said he was glad that the Government and tripartite partners would work together to help both workers and employers understand how to handle the new process. However, he also asked if there could be more flexibility for workers who may not immediately realise they were being discriminated against.
He also pointed out new challenges in workplaces, such as the use of AI hiring tools that might unintentionally favour certain groups. He suggested working with tripartite partners to make sure these technologies are fair and transparent.
Fairness must go beyond laws
In closing, Mr Ng said laws alone cannot make workplaces fair. Changing mindsets and improving HR standards are just as important.
“NTUC and our unions will keep working steadfastly with employers and the Government to make fairness a lived reality, where every worker is valued for their contribution, treated with dignity, and given a fair chance to progress,” he said.
Because, as Mr Ng said, “Every Worker Matters.”
