Ensuring Employers' Adherence to Responsible Practices in Retrenchment of Migrant Workers

Ms See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Manpower (a) since 2021, how many migrant workers (MWs) have been retrenched and from which sectors; (b) of these, how many have been given a retrenchment benefit or an ex-gratia payment; and (c) how does the Ministry ensure that companies apply the responsible retrenchment practices as outlined under the Tripartite Advisory for Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment to affected MWs.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) collects data on retrenched employees based on their residential status but not by their work pass type. From 2021 to 2023, an average of about 2,680 non-resident employees were retrenched each year. The majority of these employees worked in electronics manufacturing, information and communications and wholesale trade. Based on MOM's data, around nine in 10 eligible employees – those with at least two years of service – received a retrenchment benefit.

Under the Tripartite Advisory for Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment (TAMEM), retrenchment should be the last resort. Employers should conduct retrenchment responsibly and sensitively, be objective in the selection process and treat all employees with respect, regardless of employee background. The Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices will engage employers if they do not abide by TAMEM.