Workplace discrimination in Singapore on the decline: report

If workplace discrimination is on the decline, why do nearly half of employees still believe promotions are influenced by race?
SINGAPORE – Even in a racially and ethnically diverse city like Singapore, minorities continue to encounter instances of racial discrimination but the frequency is falling, a new study showed.
However, there remains a marked difference in how diverse segments of the population experience discrimination and fairness at work.
People who come from predominantly Singaporean Chinese communities reported lower levels of racial discrimination.
Meanwhile, people of Malay (18.4%) and Indian (16.7%) descent said they feel discriminated against, particularly during job applications or promotions.
Conversely, about half of people surveyed (47.7%) believe there is unfair treatment at work in that their colleagues are getting promoted because of their race, not because of their credentials or capabilities.
These findings come from a recent study by the Institute of Policy Studies and OnePeople.sg, an NGO that works to promote religious harmony in Singapore.
“As the survey points out, there are pockets of workers and minorities, especially, who feel discriminated against or made fun of because of their race, and insulted because of their race,” Leonard Lim of OnePeople.sg said.
Fewer instances of workplace prejudice
There is a glimmer of hope, however. The figures cited in the study are down from a quarter for the Malay and Indian segments of the population, as recorded in the 2018 and 2013 editions of the survey.
Contrast all this with the lived experiences of members of ethnic Chinese communities: only 3.7% reported experiencing discrimination. This is down from 4.1% based on the 2018 poll.
As workplaces in Singapore strive to be fairer and more inclusive environments – thanks to the recently introduced Workplace Fairness legislation – the frequency of incidents of prejudice has also declined for all minorities.
Below is the percentage of groups who reported being discriminated against at least sometimes in their place of work:
- 23.7% of Malays
- 23.4% of Indians
- 20.6% of other races
- 6% of Chinese Singaporeans
The chances of encountering prejudiced behaviour at work is decreasing, according to the study.
Yet, about 7% still feel targeted for their race or ethnicity during their job search or promotion process. The good news is that this has dropped from 9.3% in 2018.
Workplace discrimination often comes in the form of exclusion during conversations. That is, when speakers of a particular language continue in their conversation without regard for peers who may not speak it.
Nearly 3 in 5 respondents (57.7%) who have been discriminated against reported experiencing such exclusion.
Increasing levels of trust among races and ethnicities
Another aspect of the study worth highlighting is the increasing level of trust that Singapore’s diverse communities have for others, especially in instances of a national crisis, such as COVID.
Notably, in the 2024 survey – the first one conducted since the pandemic – respondents from different races and ethnicities said they would trust all or mostly all other groups to help during tough times.
Nearly half of Singaporean Chinese (48.9%) felt at ease with all or mostly all other communities extending a helping hand. The same sentiments are shared by:
- 40.1% of Malays
- 39.6% of Indians
- 38.8% of Eurasians
The report from IPS and OnePlace.sg uncovered “shifts in attitudes and perceptions” that different races and ethnicities hold towards one another.
The findings ultimately create a “clearer picture of Singapore’s progress in maintaining harmony and inclusivity,” the study said.