About seven in 10 firms offered scheduled flexible work arrangements in 2025

The Skills and Workforce Development Agency has launched three new initiatives for Singapore’s workforce: Connect by SWDA, a one-stop careers and skills touchpoint at the Lifelong Learning Institute; a SkillsFuture AI Subscription giving access to over 200 AI courses; and OurWorkforce, a new one-stop portal for employers to access training and workforce transformation resources. PM Lawrence Wong launched the initiatives at the opening of SkillsFuture Festival 2026, which runs from 16 September to 28 October.

Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau told Parliament that about 88% of employers that filed Mandatory Retrenchment Notifications in 2025 paid retrenchment benefits, and close to 80% of retrenched workers who did not receive them came from firms with fewer than 200 employees. Tripartite partners are studying retrenchment benefit payments and earlier job-matching support as part of the ongoing Employment Act review, and MOM will work on clearer guidance on disguised retrenchments.

In a written parliamentary reply, MOM said TAFEP received 59 workplace harassment complaints in 2025, and that fewer than 5% of employers asked to carry out an independent investigation did not do so; those employers were issued advisories. Under the Workplace Fairness Act, due to take effect by end-2027, employers will have to set up grievance-handling processes and investigate harassment and discrimination grievances.

From 1 December 2026, four heat stress measures that used to be recommended practice become mandatory for employers with outdoor workers. MOM is also now recommending — though not yet mandating — shaded rest areas that are well ventilated or cooled. Employers have three months from the announcement to get these in place. Minister of…