Written Answer to PQ on Food delivery provider's layoffs

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2275 OF 2023 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 9 OCT 2023
QUESTION NO. 5255 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Ms Joan Pereira

To ask the Minister for Manpower in view of the recent staff layoffs by a regional food delivery provider (a) whether the Ministry will work with the unions and the affected company to assist impacted staff to find jobs; and (b) whether there will be help to direct them to the relevant Government agencies for other forms of assistance.

Answer:

1. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) works closely with various stakeholders, including tripartite partners, to support workers who are laid off. After employers notify MOM of any retrenchments, the Taskforce for Responsible Retrenchment and Employment Facilitation, which comprises representatives from MOM, Workforce Singapore, National Trades Union Congress, NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute and Enterprise Singapore, will reach out to the affected workers via their employers and offer them career matching services. This includes providing information kits on career resources, employment facilitation services and government support for financial assistance if required. Information on government schemes that provide financial support in areas such as basic living expenses, housing instalments and school fees will be shared, and the taskforce can also help to direct affected workers who require support to the relevant government agencies. For unionised workers, employers will normally notify the union before the retrenchment exercise and work closely with them to assist the affected workers in areas such as employment facilitation, training and quantum of retrenchment benefit.