Reviewing and Strengthening Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment to Support Displaced PMEs
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether the Ministry of Manpower will review and strengthen the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment (TAMEM) and other schemes to support displaced professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) and degree holders, as asked by Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan to the Acting Minister for Manpower. In response, Ms Jasmin Lau stated that TAMEM sets responsible norms emphasizing retrenchment as a last resort after alternatives like redeployment and reskilling are explored. Displaced workers currently receive job matching, coaching, and training support through the Taskforce for Responsible Retrenchment and Employment Facilitation, as well as schemes like Career Conversion Programmes, the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, and the Mid-Career Pathways Programme. Additionally, tripartite partners are studying ways to enhance support for retrenched workers under the ongoing review of the Employment Act. The Ministry will consider whether and how to strengthen TAMEM as part of this review and provide updates in due course.
Transcript
104 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.