Nine in 10 re-employment disputes ‘amicably resolved’ in mediation: MOM

OF ABOUT 80 re-employment disputes received each year by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) from 2016 to 2021, about 90 per cent were amicably resolved through mediation, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon said in Parliament on Tuesday (Oct 4). This included instances of employees withdrawing their appeals.

The remaining 10 per cent were either escalated to the Minister for Manpower for a decision on unreasonable denial of re-employment; or to the Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT) for disputes over re-employment terms or the quantum of employment assistance payout.

Dr Koh was responding to Workers’ Party Members of Parliament Gerald Giam and Sylvia Lim, who asked about the number and outcome of re-employment disputes in recent years.

On average, about 10 cases a year were decided by the Minister or the ECT, said Dr Koh. Of these, 60 per cent were dismissed due to a lack of merit: for example, if the employee was ineligible for re-employment due to unsatisfactory work performance, or if the employer could prove that there were no suitable vacancies for re-employment.

“The other 40 per cent, or about 4 cases a year, were found to be substantiated and resulted in compensation to the employee from the employer,” he said. “There was only one such case involving a public sector employer in 2018.”

Asked by Giam if MOM could look into improving the reporting and appeals process for age discrimination, Koh said that the ministry is working actively with the unions, which act as a “gatekeeper” of how employers take care of older workers.

While the ministry will continue to engage employers and educate employees on “what their rights are and what the avenues for appeals or education may be”, some people may not be open to seeking out information or receiving educational material, he noted.

Dr Koh also gave figures on the employment rates of older residents. For those aged 55 to 64, the employment rate rose to 69 per cent in 2021, from 61.2 per cent in 2011. For those aged 65 to 69, 49 per cent were employed in 2021, up from 35.2 per cent in 2011.

This shows that more employers are prepared to hire older workers and older workers are also flexible and prepared to take on jobs and continue in their employment, he said.

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Asked by Lim for updates on previously-announced anti-discrimination legislation, Koh said that the discussion on how to translate guidelines on fair employment practices into legislation is “still ongoing”.