Some bosses still ask women during interviews, “You planning to have kids soon or not?” Others quietly cut their duties after they come back from maternity leave. Sounds unfair? That’s because it is.
Labour MP Yeo Wan Ling says this is why the new Workplace Fairness (Dispute Resolution) Bill is needed, to make sure fairness at work is not just a nice slogan but a real protection for women, caregivers and even small business owners.
“Protection and due process now go hand in hand, empowering workers to seek redress safely, swiftly, and without fear,” she said.
Still got bias
Ms Yeo said many women still face discrimination at work because of their gender or family roles.
“No worker should face adverse treatment because of gender, age, or family responsibilities, and the law now stands behind them,” she said. She added that workers must also learn to recognise discrimination and speak up.
“We must empower our workers to name what feels unjust and to stand up for what is right.”
Between 2024 and mid-2025, NTUC received more than 3,000 workplace grievances, with around 40 linked to pregnancy, discrimination or harassment. “Each number represents a worker who found the courage to speak up, and perhaps many more who still remain silent,” she said.
Ms Yeo shared the story of “Kelly” (not her real name), a Punggol resident and NTUC member who was offered a full-time job but had it changed to part-time after revealing she was pregnant. With union help, Kelly found out the employer was trying to avoid giving maternity benefits. “Kelly left without penalty and later found meaningful work near her home,” said Ms Yeo.
If this Bill had been in place earlier, Kelly could have raised her case under the new law.
Fairness for small businesses too
Ms Yeo said fairness must protect employers too, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that run lean teams. “Our SME owners run lean operations, treat staff like family, and work side by side with their teams. For such employers, an unfounded accusation can cause distress, not just financially, but personally,” she said.
She said smaller firms that want to do right should get more support through HR clinics, training and templates for fair practices. She also highlighted that NTUC’s SME and Women & Family units already work with more than 2,000 SMEs to build fair and family-friendly workplaces.
Ms Yeo ended her speech by reminding us that fairness is not just about rules, it is about respect. “Fairness benefits everyone, employers gain loyal and productive teams, workers feel respected and motivated, and our Singapore society grows even more cohesive,” she said.
