Foreigners need not apply—is this acceptable?

There are a lot of people all over the world who would like to take a big step and make a career in a different land. Singapore which is job paradise for foreigners especially to Asian people would probably have seen million advertisements of businesses looking for skilled workers.

In a recent asiaone business news report, an online advertisement for a hotel sales executive excluded Filipinos from their manpower hunt. Specifically put in "Filipinos need not apply." Some reacted and even wrote in to clarify what’s going on.

The company who posted the advertisement said it was a "genuine oversight," though their spokesman declined to comment about it. After two days, that clause from the ad was changed to "Position open to Singaporeans and Singapore PRs only."

Now the question arises: Are there any legal guidelines for a fair employment?

Last 2006, Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices was built to promote fair employment in Singapore. The council stated that employers should "recruit and choose workers on the basis of merit like experiences and their skills or abilities to perform the given profession and regardless of their race, religion, disability or age."

In other online job portals like JobStreet.com, they filter advertisements according to job requirements such as educational attainments.

But the guidelines are there only to guide employers on how to attract applicants. In whatever medium of advertisement they choose, they still have the ownership on what to put and whats not to put on their ads.

Image Source: Flickr.
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