Say 'no' to discriminatory hiring processes

SINGAPORE - Mr Delane Lim called for the Ministry of Education to exclude smokers from its list of approved trainers ("Engage only non-smokers as youth trainers"; Monday).

This is a slippery slope that the ministry and other organisations must avoid. If organisations systematically deny smokers job opportunities, it will open the door to other forms of discrimination. Job seekers may be rejected based on their religious convictions, ethnicity, choice of dressing or sexuality.

Singapore prides itself on meritocracy, and people should be hired on merit. If discriminatory hiring processes are allowed to take root, it will bode ill for the advancement of our society.

This article was published on April 23 in The Straits Times.

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