FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES    RECRUITMENT     TAFEP

Singapore - Pre-employment issues such as discriminatory job ads may be on the decline but it's still a challenge to ensure more employers and jobseekers adopt the same mentality towards application forms.

While most companies have stopped listing criteria such as chronological age, gender, language or race in their job advertisements, Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP) hopes to continue changing more employers' and jobseekers' mindsets on fair employment. Andrew Fung, TAFEP's general manager, says when HR asks for irrelevant information in job ads or application forms, they may unconsciously allow their personal bias to slip in during the recruitment process. That would potentially hinder them in hiring a good talent. "The message to employers is if you are going to use one of these [criteria], think twice first," says Fung. "Is it relevant? How do you explain it so people do not misunderstand?"

That's the general principle of hiring on merit, as advocated by TAFEP. "Focus on what the job requires," says Fung. "It's the safest and easiest way to not just avoid the discrimination part but you would also be more effective in hiring somebody who can do the work."

While Fung understands that there are many employers that would still request for applicants' photos in resumes, he believes such a requirement should depend on the nature of the job. "It's a case by case. If you're applying for a modelling agency, the photo is part of the rationale," says Fung. "Employers should review the information fields and make sure they are relevant to assessing the applicants' suitability."

When asked if jobseekers should raise any disgruntlement regarding unfair pre-employment practices with hiring companies, Fung has this to say. "My practical advice to job applicants is if they encounter this sort of issue, let us know and we can talk to the employers." Because if job applicants choose to remain silent, it would affect their employability as well, he adds. "But we understand for some employers, this is a mindset change and this is a long term process."

________________________________________________________

More quality Lighthouse titles

Get your marketing department up to speed with Asia's most read marketing site
marketing-interactive.com

Want to get on the right side of the procurement department?
Direct them to Procurement Asia