Singapore Government Press Release
Media Relations Division, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts
MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2nd Storey, Singapore 179369
Tel: 6837-9666
PRESS RELEASE
JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY OF MANPOWER, THE CONSUMER ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE AND THE ASSOCIATION OF EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES (SINGAPORE) ON ACCREDITATION SCHEME FOR EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) had in May 2002 announced that all employment agencies dealing in the recruitment of foreign domestic workers must be accredited by June 2004 before their license can be renewed. The Ministry had also endorsed an accreditation scheme administered by the Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE) under its CASETRUST (CT) Accreditation Scheme.
In addition to the CASETRUST Accreditation Scheme, MOM has now approved the Accreditation Scheme put up by the Association of Employment Agencies (AEA) (Singapore).
The AEA(S) accreditation scheme is developed under guidelines prescribed by MOM and shares a common framework similar to that of the CASETRUST scheme for employment agencies. While the schemes have slightly different approaches and emphasis, both schemes share the common goal of raising the standards of the industry through prescribed organisational and verification procedures. MOM would like to thank CASE for helping to develop the framework to accredit employment agencies dealing with the recruitment of FDW.
CASE on its part welcomes the approval of the AEA(S) Accreditation Scheme which has incorporated CASE’s input to protect consumers’ interests. In the spirit of collaboration, CASE will also extend the services of its independent mediation centre as part of the Dispute Resolution Procedure under the AEA(S) accreditation scheme until such time as the AEA(S) mediation framework has been fully set up.
AEA(S) appreciates MOM’s approval of its accreditation scheme and the support from CASE. In addition, it is grateful to CASE for its generous gesture of extending its independent mediation services to AEA(S).
Going forward, MOM will continue to work with CASE and AEA(S) to establish a national service standard for employment agencies to serve both the interests of the industry and that of the public.
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