"THE Prime Minister said employers should be fair to
non-Mandarin speakers even as demand for the language grows.
Speaking at the launch of the 26th Speak Mandarin Campaign, Mr Lee
Hsien Loong said employers should not use this language requirement
to discriminate against non-Chinese when recruiting staff.
If Mandarin is not required for the job, then it should not be made
into a prerequisite.
He said that sometimes employers require job applicants to speak
Mandarin, and when a non-Chinese shows up who speaks Mandarin, the
employer demands that he read or write the language as well.
Mr Lee said this is wrong, and the government will not
condone it.
Employers, he said, should base their hiring decisions purely on
merit.
The Prime Minister said meritocracy and equal opportunities is the
fundamental basis of Singapore's multi-racial society.
He said the whole system in Singapore is based on this principle,
and it is important that all citizens feel reassured that they
enjoy fair and equal opportunities in Singapore..."
(Straits Times 15 Nov)
If Singaporeans will not or are unable to reject discriminatory
policies based on race and practise meritocracy, then the
government will have to step in with legislation.
Unfortunately, many Singaporeans are drifting along blissfully
unaware of the risks we face with such forms of subtle racism in
our midst. The givernment MUST act, and sooner rather than later if
we are to avert the kind of scenes we see in Paris.
