850 compulsory retrenchment notices in 2023 so far; one quarter from tech: MOM

THE Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has received about 850 mandatory retrenchment notifications since the start of the year, said Manpower Minister Tan See Leng on Monday (Mar 20).

Around a quarter of them came from the information and communications sector, he said.

Three in four of the notices were submitted within the required timeframe – within five working days after informing affected employees, Dr Tan added in his written reply to a parliamentary question by People’s Action Party Member of Parliament (MP) Desmond Choo (Tampines GRC).

About 65 per cent of the late submissions were submitted before the retrenchments took effect, “which was still useful in providing Workforce Singapore or Employment and Employability Institute an opportunity to offer employment assistance to affected employees”, he said.

“Employers who submitted notifications late are issued with caution letters,” he added.