MOM is studying ‘fractional work’ and better job matching for career switchers, says MOS Foo Cexiang

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.

The Straits Times reports that the 17 ECT judgments released so far this year show how the tribunal applies tripartite guidelines on wrongful dismissal and re-employment, ahead of the Workplace Fairness Act in 2027. TADM handled 4,396 disputes involving union members in 2025, up from 3,031 in 2021.

NTUC’s Desmond Choo said on 23 Oct that close to 240 migrant workers linked to Process Maintenance Solutions and Jurong Technical & Construction have gone unpaid for up to two months. The Migrant Workers’ Centre and MOM’s ACE Group are providing meals, job matching and help with salary claims, including overtime pay.

From 1 January 2029, Singapore will move the statutory retirement age up to 65 and the re-employment age up to 70. Flexible work arrangements for older workers will also be expanded.

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.

Soup Empire Holdings, which runs the Lao Huo Tang restaurant chain, still owes about $18,900 in CPF contributions for May to July. On 21 Oct the State Courts adjourned its case to 11 Nov so it can pay the rest.