SINGAPORE: Organisations often speak highly of their corporate culture, showcasing their appealing working environment, nurturing approach to career progression and their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Of equal importance is their ability to root out and deal with serious problems. The recent Kinderland Woodlands abuse case that first surfaced on social media saw a preschool teacher ill-treating children, through actions such as forcing one child to drink water. It has demonstrated the importance of robust whistleblower programmes and the harmful effects of an ineffective reporting system.
Behind this case is a familiar pattern emerging in Singapore, where social media often appears to be the platform in which allegations of misconduct surface and gain wider traction. While the reasons for this phenomenon are manifold, it calls into question the strength and effectiveness of official whistleblowing channels within organisations in Singapore.
While there are no overarching whistleblowing laws in Singapore apart from specific laws governing corruption, drug use or gambling that are designed to protect the informant, many companies have whistleblowing programmes, where internal auditors manage reporting channels to ensure confidentiality and conduct investigations.
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