Singapore passes landmark Workplace Fairness Bill, streamlining discrimination disputes

Singapore has moved a step closer to building fairer workplaces with the passage of the Workplace Fairness (Dispute Resolution) Bill in Parliament this week. The new law marks the second phase of Singapore’s wider effort to tackle workplace discrimination and provide employees with a clearer, more structured way to seek redress.

Under the legislation, every employer will need to put in place a proper process for employees to raise complaints and have them addressed internally before escalating further. If issues remain unresolved, they can be brought to a third-party mediator and, as a last resort, to the Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT), which will handle cases up to S$250,000. Larger claims will be taken to the High Court.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has said the goal is to resolve disputes through dialogue and mediation rather than litigation. The ECT will retain its simplified procedures and judge-led hearings without legal representation, helping make the process quicker, less costly, and more accessible to a wider group of workers, including professionals and managers.

At the same time, the Bill includes safeguards for employers. It gives judges the authority to dismiss frivolous or malicious claims, ensuring that the new rules are not used unfairly against organisations. Safeguards allow judges to strike out “frivolous or vexatious” claims and impose costs on those found to be misusing the system.

The new law is expected to take effect by end-2027, giving both employers and workers time to familiarise themselves with its provisions and prepare for implementation.

This follows the earlier passage of the first Workplace Fairness Bill in January, which set out the scope of protections against discrimination. Together, the two parts form the Workplace Fairness Act, a milestone in Singapore’s ongoing effort to build fairer, more harmonious, and inclusive workplaces.