Data on Workers Retrenched in Q1 2026 Accessing Employment Facilitation and Training Support while Employed, and Effectiveness of Earlier Intervention on Re-employment Outcomes

Ms Cassandra Lee asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what proportion of retrenched workers in the first quarter of 2026 were connected to employment facilitation, career coaching or training support before their last day of work; and (b) whether the Ministry has assessed the effectiveness of earlier intervention in improving re-employment outcomes.

The Taskforce for Responsible Retrenchment and Employment Facilitation (Taskforce) actively reaches out to all retrenched local employees. In 2025, 77% of Mandatory Retrenchment Notifications (MRNs) were submitted at least seven days ahead of the employee's last working day and 73% of MRNs were submitted at least two weeks ahead. Of all companies who submitted MRNs before the retrenched employee's last working day, 74% provided employment facilitation to affected employees either through the Taskforce's employment facilitation services, their own channels, such as private outplacement firms, or a combination of both.

Among workers retrenched between January and July 2025 who took up the Taskforce's assistance before their last day of employment, about two-thirds re-entered employment within six months, above the median six-month re-entry rate for retrenched residents in 2025.