Who should submit retrenchment notifications?
Employers who employ at least 10 employees are required to notify MOM if 5 or more employees are retrenched within any 6 month period beginning 1 January 2017.
What constitutes a retrenchment?
For the purpose of this advisory, retrenchments are defined as dismissal on the ground of redundancy or by reason of any reorganisation of the employer’s profession, business, trade or work. This applies to permanent employees, as well as contract workers with full contract terms of at least 6 months.
When should I submit the notification?
The notification must be submitted within 5 working days after the employee is notified of his or her retrenchment.
For the first four employees to be retrenched, the notification must be submitted within 5 working days after the 5th employee is notified. Thereafter, the notification must be submitted within 5 working days after each employee is notified.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
Failure to notify within the required timeline is an offence and you may be liable on conviction to penalties, including a fine not exceeding $5,000.
Where to seek further assistance?
For assistance on employment facilitation services, companies can contact the following:
Workforce Singapore (WSG)
www.wsg.gov.sg
Phone: 6883 5885
Employment and Employability Institute (e2i)
www.e2i.com.sg
Phone: 6474 0606
Email: followup@e2i.com.sg
For further clarification on the mandatory retrenchment notifications, companies may approach MOM.
Phone: 6438 5122
Email: mom_lrwd@mom.gov.sg