Written Answer to PQ on Institute for Human Resource Professionals Certification Requirement

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1518 OF 2026 FOR SITTING ON 03 NOVEMBER 2026
QUESTION NO. 2348 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik

To ask the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) of the approximately 2,000 organisations with more than 200 employees, how many have more than (i) 1,000 and (ii) 5,000 employees respectively; (b) how many Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) certified professionals these organisations currently employ; and (c) what considerations informed the decision to require at least one certified HR professional regardless of workforce size beyond the 200-employee threshold.

Answer:

1. The intent for the requirement is to help raise HR standards and enable businesses and workers to better navigate workplace and technology shifts. The Tripartite Workgroup on Human Capital Capability Development, co-led by MOM, NTUC and SNEF, deliberated and agreed that the 200-employee threshold is a practical starting point that focuses on companies which would have the scale and means to take the lead on IHRP certification. At the same time, we continue to encourage all organisations to support their HR professionals to obtain IHRP certification and deepen their professional development.

2. This criterion will cover approximately 2,000 organisations, including 300 with 1,000 or more employees and 40 with 5,000 or more employees. Collectively, these organisations employ over 45% of the workforce. Around 45% of these organisations already have at least one IHRP-certified HR professional.