Former UOB Banker Loses Racial Discrimination Claim
Judge says the former senior officer was «mistaken» in believing the job went to another candidate because she was Asian, but criticized the bank's recruitment process.
A former senior officer who worked in UOB's treasury business in London has lost a racial discrimination claim at a London employment tribunal, Bloomberg reported.
Finews.asia previously reported that Daniel Smith, who worked at the London branch of Singapore's third-largest bank for the past 23 years, alleged that he was denied a new job because he is not Asian.
Smith said he tried to look for new roles at the bank in 2017 as the branch stopped offering clearing services. However, general manager Andy Cheah told him that he would be unsuccessful because the bank had found an Asian candidate who fits better into the bank's culture. Smith lost his position shortly after questioning Cheah's comments.
Unfair Dismissal
Judge Joanna Wade said that the job went to a rival candidate not because she was Asian, but because she has better experience, Bloomberg reported. However, she said the bank dismissed Smith unfairly because it had a duty to look for suitable alternatives when his role was eliminated, and that there was a chance he would have continued working there.
UOB said it’s «pleased» with the outcome and respects the unfair dismissal decision, even though Smith had rejected its alternative job offer, a spokeswoman said, Bloomberg reported.
As there was no proof of discrimination, Smith's award is capped at 84,000 pounds ($110,000).
