\n<\/p>\n
In July, GovTech announced that it had cut 93 jobs in the first of three phases of workplace transformation expected to take place over two years.<\/p>\n
The agency expects to let go of 7 to 9 per cent \u2013 or about 300 workers \u2013 of its roughly 3,900-strong pool of permanent and contract staff. The scope of the next phase is expected to be announced by November.<\/p>\n
Ms Lau said the ministry was consulted on GovTech’s workforce transformation plans, adding that this was a “necessary part” of GovTech’s shift from a one-off project-delivery model to a continuous product-ownership model, with the aim to create and deliver better services for Singapore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“GovTech’s workforce will grow because of this shift, but its composition will also need to change,” she said.<\/p>\n
GovTech officers will need to take greater end-to-end responsibility for the government’s digital products and platforms, while continuing to partner with vendors who have specialised expertise, said Ms Lau.<\/p>\n
“Teams that own the products must not only design and build them but must also maintain and improve them continually, to provide more reliable, secure and responsive digital services for citizens.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“This age group is therefore not over-represented among the exiting officers,” said Ms Lau.<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
She added that there was no significant difference in tenure between the retrenched workers \u2013 who have served for a median of 5.4 years \u2013 and those being retrained \u2013 who have a median tenure of six years.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
One-third of the affected employees were team leaders, while the remainder were individual contributors.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Mr Tay also asked how GovTech’s contract staff were affected by the workforce transformation.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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