Sylvia Lim: Still Waiting for Anti-Discrimination Legislation Announced Nearly Two Years Ago

SINGAPORE: In a speech delivered in Parliament on Tuesday (Apr 18), Workers’ Party MP Sylvia Lim (Aljunied GRC) expressed concerns about ageism in society, particularly in the workplace. She raised the question, “How do we build a country for all ages?” as she pointed out that ageist attitudes persist “everywhere,” including in employment practices.

Lim shared that many middle-aged job-seekers report being sidelined once their age is revealed during the hiring process, receiving a polite but empty promise of a follow-up call. Citing a March survey by the Ministry of Manpower, she emphasized that ageist attitudes remain prevalent, affecting older workers across Singapore.

Her speech touched on not only ageism towards the elderly but also discrimination against the youth. She stressed the need for both groups to feel valued and indispensable to society.

While Lim acknowledged the positive policies in place for Singapore’s elderly, particularly in health initiatives, she cautioned against perpetuating ageism through public discourse. “Ministers and MPs should avoid making statements that may inadvertently perpetuate ageism, such as: ‘By the year 2030, we will face a silver tsunami,’” she remarked, explaining that such phrases evoke the wrong images.

On the topic of worker protection, Lim urged for stronger measures. “On the employment front, there are policies to incentivise employers to hire older workers through wage offset schemes such as the Senior Employment Credit,” she said. However, she underscored the delay in implementing the anti-discrimination legislation that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced nearly two years ago, expressing frustration at the lack of progress.

Lim also addressed the concerns of young people in Singapore, noting that reports indicate growing cynicism about existing government engagement efforts. She emphasized that youth want more than just dialogue; they seek direct participation in governance and policy formulation. Lim cautioned against pigeonholing young people’s concerns into a narrow set of “woke” issues, such as climate change or discrimination, as doing so would alienate them from broader societal discussions.

“We must be careful not to pigeonhole young people’s issues into a handful of areas and only seek to engage them on those. That would be a big turnoff and a disservice to our young,” she concluded.