MOM requires employers with at least 10 employees to notify of all retrenchments

29 September 2021

From 1 November 2021, employers with at least 10 employees are required to notify the Ministry of Manpower (“MOM”) of all retrenchments regardless of the number of employees affected. This was announced by MOM on 7 September 2021.

Employers must file the mandatory retrenchment notification within five working days after they provide notice of retrenchment to the affected employee(s).

Currently, employers are only required to notify the MOM if they retrench five or more employees within a six-month period.

Notifying MOM of retrenchment exercises will enable the tripartite partners, i.e. MOM, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), and other relevant agencies, to help affected employees find alternative employment and/or identify relevant training to enhance employability.

The Employment (Retrenchment Reporting) Notification will be amended to implement the updated requirements on mandatory retrenchment notification.

Employers should also ensure they manage any retrenchment exercises responsibly and fairly, in line with the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment.

Reference materials

The following materials are available on the MOM website www.mom.gov.sg:

• Press release 
• MOM Mandatory Retrenchment Notifications webpage  
• Tripartite Guidelines on Mandatory Retrenchment Notifications 
• Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment