Written Answer to PQ on Prohibiting Requests for Last-Drawn Salary

NOTICE PAPER NO. 205 OF 2025 FOR SITTING ON OR AFTER 05 NOVEMBER 2025
QUESTION NO. 524 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat

To ask the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider prohibiting employers from requesting last-drawn salary information during recruitment to promote wage determination based on skills and role requirements, prevent anchoring and indexing of offers to prior pay, and mitigate disadvantages from unfavourable starting salaries.

Answer:

The Ministry of Manpower does not plan to prohibit employers from requesting last-drawn salary information during recruitment. Such information may be relevant for employers to gauge a candidate's seniority or to make an appropriate offer. However, employers who rely heavily on prior pay may risk overlooking strong candidates by anchoring offers to pay levels that do not reflect current skills. Jobseekers are not obliged to disclose their past salaries and may negotiate compensation based on their skills, experience, and the demands of the role.