Reviewing and Strengthening Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment to Support Displaced PMEs

Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Acting Minister for Manpower in view of the rising share of professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) and degree holders among those retrenched in 2025 and early 2026, whether the Ministry will review and strengthen the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment, as well as other Government schemes, to support more displaced PMEs.

Ms Jasmin Lau: The Ministry of Manpower recognises the concerns around rising professionals, managers and executive (PME) and degree-holder retrenchments. Today, the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment (TAMEM) sets out the relevant norms that guide employers, employees and unions on responsible practices during retrenchments. For instance, TAMEM makes clear that retrenchment should be the last resort only after alternatives, such as redeployment, reskilling and cost-saving measures, have been considered.

When retrenchment takes place, the Government works with tripartite partners to support displaced workers through the Taskforce for Responsible Retrenchment and Employment Facilitation, which reaches out to offer job matching services, coaching and training support. There are also programmes to support displaced PMEs to pivot to a new job role or sector, such as the Skills and Workforce Development Agency's Career Conversion Programmes, the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme and Mid-Career Pathways Programme.

As part of the ongoing review of the Employment Act, tripartite partners are studying ways to strengthen support provided to retrenched workers, including PMEs and degree holders. We will consider whether and how to strengthen TAMEM as part of the review. We will provide an update in due course.