Ministry of Manpower

SINGAPORE BUDGET 2026

Mandatory early layoff alerts may hasten layoffs, impede talks: Tan See Leng

A review of the retrenchment notification framework is underway

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng (third from right) during his visit to Thales Solutions Asia, which is one of the host organisations in the GRIT programme.

About 350 trainees placed with over 50 host organisations under graduate traineeship scheme

Placements come amid resilient labour market, with entry-level PMET roles and expected employment on the rise

The Workfare Skills Support scheme was first announced in Budget 2025.

Workfare training allowance raised up to S$18,000 a year for lower-wage workers

The Workfare Skills Support (Level-Up) scheme targets lower-wage workers over 30

Resident employment growth in Q4 2025 was backed by “seasonal year-end hiring gains”, in the areas of administrative and support services as well as retail trade.

Singapore’s total employment up by 19,600 in Q4; retrenchment level rises in 2025: MOM

Labour market is expected to expand in Q1 2026, though firms are becoming more cautious in their hiring plans

As at November 2025, more than 7,500 employers have tapped the fund, benefiting over 65,000 senior workers.

MOM extends part-time re-employment grant to 2027

Eligible employers will receive a grant of S$2,500 for every senior worker aged 60 and above they employ or retain

There were fewer incidents of retrenchments due to reasons such as downturn in the industry or concerns of high costs.

Retrenchments rise slightly in Q3 amid restructuring, but hiring remains firm

The layoffs are concentrated in growth sectors such as financial services, professional services and information and communications

Officers arresting a woman during an enforcement operation at two public entertainment outlets on Oct 23.

From short-term work use to errant abuse: How the Performing Artiste Work Permit scheme was misused

The other pass is the Miscellaneous Work Pass, for eligible foreigners on short-term work assignments, such as speakers at a seminar, religious workers or journalists

The proportion of permanent roles secured by youth aged 15 to 24 climbed to 65.8% this year, from 58% a year earlier.

Short-term contracts form smaller share of jobs, with permanent roles at record high: MOM

The report finds ‘no sustained shift’ towards short-term roles for youth

MOM says it began collecting overseas work experience data this year to assess the preparedness of Singapore’s resident workforce for regional and senior roles, given the country’s position as a hub for multinational companies' headquarters.

China, US and Malaysia are top overseas postings for Singapore workers: MOM

Only 3.1 per cent of the resident labour force has ever worked overseas full-time for at least six months