Promoting workplace diversity and fairness in Singapore

Besides enacting legislation against workplace discrimination, the Singapore government is also looking to encourage more employers to promote inclusive workplaces and fairer employment practices, including within the public sector, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

He was speaking during a dialogue at the Singapore Perspectives 2023 conference organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), a think-tank that studies and generates public policy ideas in Singapore.

In response to the question of whether sexual orientation and gender identity are protected categories under anti-discrimination laws, Wong stated that “sex differs from gender”.

“It will cover sex, it will cover race, religion, age. We’ve stated very clearly what the areas of coverage are for the anti-discrimination act,” he said, adding that this would be debated in parliament when the bill is tabled, reported The Straits Times.

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Wong also highlighted how the government is continuing to use legislation as part of efforts to implement more inclusive workplace policies in Singapore. “And we will continue to see how we can encourage more employers to uphold not just the letter of the law but the spirit of it, to really promote more inclusive workplace practices and fairer employment practices across the board, and the public service will do its part too,” he added.