Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has introduced the Workplace Fairness Bill in Parliament, aimed at providing employees with more avenues to seek recourse when they face discrimination. However, while the legislation will protect various social groups from workplace discrimination, it explicitly excludes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics.
This event will provide a critical look at the implications of this exclusion, highlight workplace experiences for LGBTQ+ employees, and underscore the ongoing need for companies to build inclusive workplaces and foster fair treatment for all.
Mark your calendar for 26 November 2024 (Tuesday) from 6 pm to 8:30 pm to learn more. Light bites and beverages will be provided.
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The Workplace Fairness Legislation, despite its exclusion of SOGIE protections, will represent a significant step forward in reducing discrimination in the workplace. This session will provide a brief overview of the Act, highlighting its key provisions, the forms of discrimination it addresses, and the legal implications for employers and employees.
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In 2021, the Singaporean government announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at addressing workplace discrimination. However, limited research has been conducted in Singapore to explore workplace harassment and discrimination experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression (SOGIE). To address this gap, our team from the National University of Singapore and Same But Different collaborated with The Williams Institute at UCLA Law to conduct an exploratory study between March and August 2023. The study surveyed 409 LGBTQ+ individuals in Singapore, aged 18 and above, to examine their workplace experiences.
The research aimed to document incidents of workplace discrimination and harassment faced by LGBTQ+ employees, as well as their experiences in reporting grievances. By providing critical data, the study seeks to inform discussions on potential expansions of the proposed legislation to explicitly include SOGIE protections, fostering a more inclusive and equitable work environment in Singapore.
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Pink Dot will share insights into community reactions and sentiments regarding workplace discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Singapore. In partnership with Milieu Insights, Pink Dot recently surveyed over 900 Singaporeans to examine the impact of discrimination across various life areas, including the workplace. At the event, Pink Dot will present key findings and policy recommendations from its first report, as well as share how the organisation has been engaging with the issue. Pink Dot will also provide community perspectives on the way forward, discussing the practical steps to be taken and the ongoing barriers to progress.
This is a private event and attendance is limited to invited guests only due to event space capacity. All confirmed guests will receive an email confirmation.
This Q Chamber event is made possible through the kind sponsorship of Linklaters.
We have closed registration for this event as we are at maximum capacity due to positive demand. Thank you for your interest. To join our invite list for Q Chamber events, please sign up as a corporate or individual member here.
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About Q Chamber:
Q Chamber is Singapore’s first LGBTQ+ and allied chamber of commerce, and strives to connect businesses and individuals to promote our shared economic interests and values of diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe this initiative can help to build LGBTQ+ representation, allyship and leadership towards a better Singapore society and business community. For more information on Q Chamber, do visit our website or sign up to join our membership.