HR and manpower news from Singapore media outlets and trusted news sources.
Retrenchments jumped to 4,620 in the second quarter — the highest quarterly total since late 2020, Malay Mail reports. MOM says the driver isn’t cost-cutting or company closures; it’s businesses reorganising and restructuring as they digitalise and automate. Vacancies still outnumber jobseekers overall, but the spike points to employers recalibrating faster than expected.
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 government is reviewing whether criminal record screening for people working with children should extend beyond the sectors it currently covers — following parliamentary questions raised on 8 September 2026. Screening today applies to MOE school staff, ECDA-licensed preschool employees, mosque workers, recognised religious teachers, and SportSG-registered coaches. Under review: private tutors, sports coaches, arts…
A third of Singapore employers say it’s taking longer to fill roles than it did a year ago, according to ManpowerGroup’s latest Employment Outlook Survey, released 8 September 2026. Of the 651 employers surveyed, 33% reported longer hiring timelines, 42% saw no change, and 24% said hiring had actually sped up. Where the delays are…
Salaries for political office holders and Members of Parliament will rise by up to 9% from 15 October 2026 — the first change to the framework since 2011, following a review committee appointed in December 2025. The benchmark salary for an entry-level minister (MR4) rises from S$1.1 million to S$1.8 million, an average annual growth…
