Workers Who Have Been Paid Retrenchment Benefits that Exceeded Prevailing Norms

34 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Manpower (a) with reference to the Ministry's 2017 survey on retrenchment benefits, how many workers have been paid retrenchment benefits that exceeded prevailing norms; and (b) whether the Ministry plans to continue undertaking and publishing such surveys on retrenchment benefits and, if so, with what frequency.

Dr Tan See Leng: Under the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment, the prevailing norm is to pay retrenchment benefits of between two weeks to one month of salary per year of service. With reference to the 2017 survey on retrenchment benefits, nine in 10 retrenched workers received retrenchment benefits. Among them, eight in 10 received retrenchment benefits in accordance with the prevailing norm and one in 10 received above the norm. The quantum of the benefits paid depends on factors, such as industry practice and the financial position of the company.

There is no fixed frequency for conducting the retrenchment benefits survey. Nonetheless, where appropriate, the Ministry of Manpower will conduct new surveys and release the data.