The Business Times
Paige Lim

Paige Lim

CORRESPONDENT

Paige is a reporter with The Business Times, covering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and macroeconomics. She previously worked in marketing communications and contributed film features on a freelance basis.

emailpaigelim@sph.com.sg
email@PaigeLimBT
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Singapore’s key exports surprise again with 22.2% surge in October, beating forecasts

Sales to most markets grew, fuelled by both electronics and non-electronics; but US led falls with 12.5 per cent contraction

The Sen is located off Jalan Jurong Kechil in the Upper Bukit Timah area of District 21.

The Sen in Upper Bukit Timah sells 23% of units at launch weekend at average S$2,358 psf

While sales were measured compared to recent launches, developer Sustained Land remains encouraged by the ‘healthy interest’ in key unit types

There is increased confidence in India’s economic potential among Singapore businesses, notes SBF.

SBF’s new Singapore Enterprise Centre in Bengaluru to help SMEs expand into India

The international centre is expected to engage more than 470 companies over the next two years through various initiatives

From left: Lionel Wong, CEO of Gprnt; Lee Bing Yi, partner at PwC Singapore; Lee Yee Fung, chief smart technologies and sustainability officer at the Singapore Business Federation; and Lim Keum Keow, director at Sustainability Alliance.

3 in 4 SMEs have yet to go green due to financial and time constraints, lack of expertise: study

Recommendations include ramping up sustainability-focused initiatives and developing a ‘sustainability passport’ to track their progress

The progressive wage model covers lower-wage sectors such as cleaning, security, retail, food services and waste management.

About 1 in 5 eligible employees not paid in line with Progressive Wage standards: MOM

The ministry does not, however, track training or working hour requirements by the various Progressive Wage Model sectors

Retail food establishments include restaurants; cafes; fast food outlets; food courts; hawker centres; coffee shops and canteens; food and drinks kiosks mainly for takeaway and delivery; pubs; stalls selling cooked food and prepared drinks; and food caterers.

Of F&B closures in 2025, 82% of those registered for up to 5 years had never made a profit: MTI

From Jan 1 to Oct 23, there were 3,357 new retail food establishments and 2,431 closures, going by data from Acra

Beyond Agoda's case, MOM has not received any complaints on clauses discouraging workers from approaching the authorities or unions over the last three years.

Agoda layoffs: Clauses that deter workers from going to authorities ‘should not be included’

MOM does not proactively monitor severance agreements but will investigate upon complaints, says Manpower Minister Tan See Leng

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said the government “is mindful not to over-regulate and be intrusive into private contractual agreements” between employers and workers.

MOM reviewing NTUC’s call for employers to give advance notice of retrenchments: Tan See Leng

This comes in the wake of online travel booking platform Agoda’s recent layoffs

To prevent workers and employers from being embroiled in litigation and facing high legal costs, workplace discrimination claims will mainly be heard in the Employment Claims Tribunals.

Singapore aims for workplace fairness law to kick in end-2027, from previous estimate of ‘2026 to 2027’

The government will step up education and outreach efforts in the meantime, says Manpower Minister Tan See Leng

The electronics sector PMI declined 0.3 point to 50.4 in October, compared to a reading of 50.7 in the month before.

Singapore factory activity dips to neutral in October as electronics expansion slows

The overall purchasing managers’ index is down 0.1 point to 50

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