Singapore (AFP)
Singapore's Ubisoft studio is being investigated into allegations of sexual harassment and racial discrimination, the local regulator said, over a new case affecting the French video game giant.
The company behind the Assassin's Creed or Far Cry games was splashed last year by revelations about the sexist and violent behavior of several of its executives.
Tafep, a Southeast Asian city-state employer regulator, said on Tuesday it had opened an investigation after receiving "anonymous information containing links to online articles about allegations of harassment at the workplace. work and discriminatory treatment at Ubisoft Singapore ".
The regulator also called on anyone who may have knowledge of illegal behavior, such as assault or sexual harassment, to report these incidents to the police.
The video game site Kotaku published an investigation last month citing allegations of harassment, mistreatment and significant wage disparities between expatriates and Singaporeans, based on the testimonies of some 20 employees and ex-employees of Singapore. 'Ubisoft Singapore speaking on condition of anonymity.
Two women testified to inappropriate physical contact and comments while another employee complained of "an insane wage gap between locals and expatriates".
Ubisoft Singapore replied that it was aware of the allegations raised by the regulator in a statement to AFP.
"As our discussions (with the regulator) are ongoing, we do not have any elements that can be made public at this stage," he said.
“All Ubisoft studios, including Ubisoft Singapore, strive to promote a culture that team members and partners can be proud of. We do not tolerate and will not admit discrimination or abuse,” adds the press release.
Singapore's Ubisoft studio, established in 2008, has some 500 employees, according to local media Straits Times.
The video game industry, where men predominate, suffers from a bad reputation for its often sexist treatment of women in games as well as for harassment and discrimination in studios.
Allegations against managers at Ubisoft studios in Toronto and Montreal led to resignations and layoffs last year.
Other video game publishers are also criticized.
The American giant Activision Blizzard, accused of allowing discrimination and harassment to take hold within the company, has announced a reshuffle in its management.
© 2021 AFP