Singapore HR News and Updates for January 2023

Posted on 30 January 2023 in Business | Anna Beatrice

Let’s take a look at Singapore’s top HR news, updates and insights for January 2023.

Employers Urged to Get Accredited for ‘Progressive Wages’

MOM recently launched the Progressive Wage (PW) Mark scheme that accredits employers who are paying progressive wages to lower-wage workers in cleaning, security, landscape, lift and escalator and retail job roles. It also covers retail workers and in-house cleaners, security officers and landscape maintenance employees.

According to MOM, all employers who hire at least one of these workers are eligible to apply for the PW Mark, as long as they are paid progressive wages while other staff are paid at least the minimum S$1,400.

MOM also stated that the new accreditation scheme outlines progressive practices that provide better support for our lower-wage workers in workplace safety and health, training and career development, and rest area provision.

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Singapore’s New Rules for Transporting Workers in Lorries Effective 1 Jan 2023

Singapore employers with workers who need to be transported in lorries with rear decks will have to abide by new requirements under the Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSH Act), effective 1 January 2023. One of the requirements includes newly-registered lorries to be fitted with rain covers on all non-enclosed sides of the canopy, with at least one side being transparent

These requirements are part of an advisory issued by the Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Transport, Land Transport Authority, Singapore Police Force, and Building and Construction Authority.

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Singapore Will Keep Building Local Tech Talent amid Job Cuts

Technology will continue to undergird the growth of Singapore’s economy and create job opportunities despite the ongoing massive tech job cuts around the world, according to Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo.

Singapore will also continue to invest in Singaporeans by reskilling and upskilling them for career opportunities in tech, citing opportunities in the development of the green economy. Other sectors ramping up their hiring of tech talent include banking, logistics and accommodation.

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More Employees in Singapore Expected to Seek Better Pay in 2023

As the global talent war continues to heat up and economic issues like higher living costs and inflation rise, a recent Indeed survey showed that nearly half of Singapore's workforce is looking for a salary hike this year. More employers in Singapore may have to pay higher salaries, or risk losing their best talent in 2023.

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‘Poorly Executed’ Layoffs Aimed at Quickly Cutting Costs Could Hurt Firms’ Image and Spark Staff Exodus, Say Experts

HR experts said brutal layoffs can undoubtedly have many impacts, in addition to affecting the company’s reputation. In a commentary for news channel CNA, HR leaders stated that retrenchments must be managed properly not just out of compassion since livelihoods are at stake but also to “reduce reputational risks and preserve brand value” to prospective and existing talent.

They added that if layoffs are badly executed, organisations risk losing employees they wanted to retain, which can cause a manpower crunch that could be hard to recover in time when growth returns.

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Manpower and Higher Costs Remain Core Challenges for Firms in Singapore

Nearly all organisations report facing manpower issues, especially manpower costs and foreign manpower, and wages pose the biggest challenges to them as they compete to attract and retain talent, according to the National Business Survey (NBS) 2022/2023 by Singapore Business Federation (SBF).

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