Written Answer to PQ on Restricting Access to Information Used for Hiring

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1245 OF 2026 FOR THE SITTING ON 08 SEPTEMBER 2026
QUESTION NO.1933 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim

To ask the Acting Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry has considered, consistent with the Workplace Fairness Act when it comes into operation, making it illegal for potential employers to request age or marital status prior to a formal offer.

Answer:

Under the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices (TGFEP), employers should only ask for information relevant to assessing an applicant’s suitability for a job. This applies to requests for personal information. If such information is requested prior to the point of job offer, employers should clearly inform the applicant why the information is relevant to assessing his or her suitability.

Employers which make adverse employment decisions based on protected characteristics would be in breach of the Workplace Fairness Act.