Speaking at a conference on diversity and leadership organised by SMU and Singapore National Employers Federation today, Minister of State for Manpower Teo Ser Luck noted that organisations should have policies in place to manage diversity when rolling out fair hiring and employment practices. He was encouraging more organisations to ensure that employees of different races, genders, cultures and backgrounds feel included as part of their teams. Mr Teo also said that with a fair and inclusive workforce, employees will feel more valued and engaged, which leads to better performance and business outcomes. He added that employee selection should be based on merit, with Singaporeans considered fairly for all job opportunities. The conference was organised in line with International Women's Day on Mar 8, and included speakers who touched on gender diversity and the importance of having women in decision-making roles. About 300 people, including employers, HR practitioners and students attended the conference.