Best practices to advertise for job opportunities in the media without discrimination
Nationality
What the Guidelines say:
"Words or phrases that exclude Singaporeans or indicate preference for non-Singaporeans should not be used"
Preferred approach is avoid specifying any nationality.
| Not Ok ✘ | Ok ✓ |
|---|---|
|
• “Non-Singaporeans preferred” • “Singaporeans and Malaysians preferred” • “Singaporeans and Malaysians welcome” • “Singaporeans and Filipinos (or other nationalities)” • “We have quota for WP” / “Work pass and levy included”/ “EP/SP/DP only” / “Lodging for foreigners provided” / Stating of all nationalities that qualify for a particular sector’s work permit • “Foreigners can/are welcome to apply” |
• No mention of nationality except Singaporeans • “Candidates who require work passes need not apply” |
|
• No exclusion of specific foreign nationalities “No Filipinos” or “Filipinos need not apply” |
Language
Explain the language requirement if specified.
What the Guidelines say:
"If a job entails proficiency in a particular language, Employers should justify the need for the requirement. This would reduce ambiguity and minimise incidence of misunderstanding… "
As long as language is indicated as some criteria, a justification needs to be provided to reduce risk of misunderstanding.
| Not Ok ✘ | Ok ✓ |
|---|---|
| “Mandarin is an advantage" | Bilingual with proficiency in mandarin preferred to liaise with mandarin speaking clients |
| “English / Chinese (Mandarin)” | Able to liaise with mandarin speaking associates |
| “Speak Mandarin” |
If job entails proficiency in a particular language, Employers should explain such requirement
*Reduce ambiguity
*Minimise incidence of misunderstanding between job seekers and recruiting party
Good Practices
✔ Effectively bilingual
✔ Bilingual in English and Mandarin for handling Mandarin speaking clients
Age
Do not use Age as requirement or suggest preference for a particular age group.
What the Guidelines say:
- “Objective and fair selection criteria should be consistently applied at all stages of the recruitment process”
- For Job Ads: “As a general principle, Employers should not stipulate age as a requirement for employment”
- However, “employers may state in their job advertisements that the job is suitable for older workers”
- “Interviewers should be conscious not to stereotype candidates based on criteria that are not relevant for the job”
Good Practices
✔ Candidates with no experience are welcome to apply
✔ 2-3 years of relevant working experience required
✔ Candidate is required to carry a load of at least 10kg
Race
Do not state preference for a certain race
Good Practices
✔ Cook required to handle pork
✔ Video shop specialising in Tamil movies requires Sales Assistant
Gender
Do not use gender-specific, designation or suggest preference for a particular gender
Good Practices
✔ Physical work required
✔ Women’s boutique requires sales Assistant
Marital Status
Family/Marital status is generally irrelevant criteria as jobs can be performed equally well by either single or married persons or care givers
Good Practices
✔ Required to work long hours
✔ Frequent overseas travelling is expected
Religion
Religion is unacceptable as criteria EXCEPT in cases where performing religious functions is part of job and must be spelt out clearly and objectively
Good Practices
- Christian bookshop requires Shop Assistant
- Need to entertain clients in pubs regularly
- Candidate required to slaughter chickens according to Muslim rites
Criteria in job advertisement should NOT be based on:
- Age
- Race or religion
- Gender
- Family Status
- Language
| Tip: The advertisement should not include words or phrases that exclude Singaporeans or indicate preference for non-Singaporeans. |
Elements of a Good Job Advertisement
- Have a clear Job Title
- Have a strong opening statement that highlights the attractive features of the job
- State the relevant requirements
- Contain non-discriminatory language. If using some criteria which may be viewed as discriminatory, explain
- Provide brief information about the job and the company
- Be clear and concise