Employers should bear the cost of short-term haze work suspensions, with no pay or leave deductions, says MOS Dinesh

GovTech told CNA on 22 Oct that 38 staff will leave in its second retrenchment phase, after 93 in July, as it cuts 7 to 9 per cent of its workforce. It said it prioritised retraining and redeployment, and is working with the Public Service Division, SWDA and the AUSBE union on career coaching and job placement.

With childcare leave now expanded, MOM has set out how it plans to help employers absorb the extra manpower gaps that come with it — announced 10 September 2026. The headline measure: employers get full reimbursement for the duration of child-related leave taken by their staff, intended to offset the cost of bringing in temporary…

The Institute for Adult Learning launched the Skills-First Framework for Action on 19 Oct, proposing 12 pilot initiatives to help employers hire, develop and promote workers based on skills rather than qualifications or previous titles. It was co-authored with SWDA, NTUC, SBF, SNEF and SUSS, and IAL will set up an observatory to study how well the practices work.

A 41-year-old Malaysian was sentenced on 22 Oct to six years and one month’s jail and fined S$6,000 for brokering work permit applications so 27 Malaysians could enter Singapore and open bank accounts for a syndicate. His charges included offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, and he has filed an appeal.

A Singapore tribunal magistrate dismissed a wrongful dismissal claim by a former PR firm managing director, who was fired without notice during her notice period after secretly recording a meeting with company leaders. The magistrate said such a recording could amount to misconduct justifying summary dismissal, but each case depends on its facts.

MOM said on 24 Oct it is investigating Process Maintenance Solutions and Jurong Technical & Construction over salary arrears owed to migrant workers. It is working with the Migrant Workers’ Centre and TADM to help affected workers with salary claims, accommodation and alternative jobs.