GovTech layoffs necessary to maintain quality of digital services for Singaporeans, says Jasmin Lau

The agency is therefore hiring more software engineers, product managers, designers, data specialists, cybersecurity experts and platform engineers, while needing fewer officers for project and vendor management, she said.

AFFECTED EMPLOYEES MOSTLY IN THEIR FORTIES

Giving a demographic breakdown of officers affected in the first phase, Ms Lau said workers in their 40s formed the largest age group of affected employees, accounting for 42 per cent of both the 93 retrenched officers and the 305 affected officers.

“This age group is therefore not over-represented among the exiting officers,” said Ms Lau.

She later said that about 30 per cent of the affected workers were above the age of 50, in reply to a question from MP Patrick Tay (PAP-Pioneer).

She added that there was no significant difference in tenure between the retrenched workers – who have served for a median of 5.4 years – and those being retrained – who have a median tenure of six years.

Those retrained on apprenticeships receive full salary, structured training and on-the-job learning to develop capabilities required under GovTech’s future operating model, she said.

One-third of the affected employees were team leaders, while the remainder were individual contributors.

“We recognise the disruption this causes to the affected officers and their families, and we will support them fully through this process,” said Ms Lau.

GovTech previously stated that out of the total of 305 officers affected in GovTech’s first phase of transformation, there were 93 retrenched employees, 102 officers retained in current roles, and 110 retrained for new roles under apprenticeships.

Mr Tay also asked how GovTech’s contract staff were affected by the workforce transformation.

Ms Lau said GovTech has contract workers across a range of functions, and those in project and vendor management roles are more likely to be affected by the transformation plans.