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NLB on age bias
'We have since reminded our external contractors not to practise discriminatory policies in their employment practices.'
MS TAY AI CHENG, senior director, public library services, National Library Board: 'I refer to last Saturday's Forum letter by Mrs Patricia Leong, 'Too old for library job' and Monday's Forum Online letter by Mr Quek Kok Ann, 'Age and sex discrimination may be set by job agency, not prospective employer'. Like other government agencies, the National Library Board (NLB) has best sourced non-core services to the private sector, so delivery of these services can be done more effectively. The shelving function at NLB libraries, which is a non-core service, together with its related manpower requirements, are managed entirely by external contractors. These contractors are assessed based on agreed service standards and not by employment criteria. We have since reminded our external contractors not to practise discriminatory policies in their employment practices. We would like to assure Mrs Leong and Mr Quek that NLB is a signatory of the Fair Employment Pledge and abides by the spirit and principles of Fair Employment, which promotes recruitment based on merits such as skills, experience and ability, regardless of age, race, gender, religion or family status. To emphasise our commitment to raise awareness of fair employment practices, NLB is partnering with the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices to showcase winning photographs along with a selection of entries of the inaugural What Does Fair Employment Mean To Me? photo competition by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices. These winning works will also be displayed at selected public libraries. In order to assist Mrs Leong on her feedback, we would like her to contact us on 6332-3255 or e-mail [email protected].'
'We have since reminded our external contractors not to practise discriminatory policies in their employment practices.'
MS TAY AI CHENG, senior director, public library services, National Library Board: 'I refer to last Saturday's Forum letter by Mrs Patricia Leong, 'Too old for library job' and Monday's Forum Online letter by Mr Quek Kok Ann, 'Age and sex discrimination may be set by job agency, not prospective employer'. Like other government agencies, the National Library Board (NLB) has best sourced non-core services to the private sector, so delivery of these services can be done more effectively. The shelving function at NLB libraries, which is a non-core service, together with its related manpower requirements, are managed entirely by external contractors. These contractors are assessed based on agreed service standards and not by employment criteria. We have since reminded our external contractors not to practise discriminatory policies in their employment practices. We would like to assure Mrs Leong and Mr Quek that NLB is a signatory of the Fair Employment Pledge and abides by the spirit and principles of Fair Employment, which promotes recruitment based on merits such as skills, experience and ability, regardless of age, race, gender, religion or family status. To emphasise our commitment to raise awareness of fair employment practices, NLB is partnering with the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices to showcase winning photographs along with a selection of entries of the inaugural What Does Fair Employment Mean To Me? photo competition by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices. These winning works will also be displayed at selected public libraries. In order to assist Mrs Leong on her feedback, we would like her to contact us on 6332-3255 or e-mail [email protected].'