The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has curbed the work pass privileges of marine company Prime Gold International Pte Ltd (Prime Gold) for two years for engaging in discriminatory employment practices in breach of the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF).
Under the FCF, all firms must consider Singaporeans fairly for job vacancies. They should also put in place fair hiring, employment, and staff development practices that are open, merit-based and non-discriminatory.
This is the first time a company has been given such a ban, although MOM has previously taken action against 100 odd companies for posting discriminatory job advertisements.
An online check by The Business Times showed the company's business includes barge operations.
13 of Prime Gold's former Singaporean employees, comprising Captains, Chief Officers, Chief Engineers, Greasers and Able-bodied Seamen, approached MOM for assistance in June this year.
These employees felt aggrieved when new foreign workers took over their positions after they were retrenched in phases.
Although Prime Gold claimed that the Singaporean employees were unqualified, had poor work performances and were sacked due to job redundancy and company losses, these reasons were not substantiated.
MOM said that by unfairly replacing Singaporeans with foreigners, Prime Gold has denied Singaporeans fair opportunities for employment and career development.
MOM said in a press statement that it takes a serious view of the discriminatory employment practices carried out by Prime Gold, as it affects the livelihood of Singaporeans already in employment.
Mrs Roslyn Ten-Kong, Director of the Fair Consideration Department, said: "MOM has been investigating complaints against companies for not considering Singaporeans fairly for job and development opportunities, including if they resorted to discriminatory dismissal of Singaporeans. This is a case where we found the company to have retrenched Singaporeans unfairly."
Members of the public can call MOM at 6438 5122 to report non-compliance of FCF issues. All tip-offs will be kept strictly confidential.
source:::http://business.asiaone.com
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