In the second of three rounds of layoffs, the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) let go of 38 employees to reduce reliance on vendors.
GovTech said the 38 affected roles are primarily structured around traditional project delivery.
“Following the workforce review, 106 officers will remain in their current roles, while another 106 are eligible for conversion and apprenticeship pathways to transition into new roles,” said GovTech, adding that those doing apprenticeships will be supported throughout the transition process.
The agency said it has prioritised retaining, retraining, and redeploying its officers, wherever possible, as with the first phase.
The first round of layoffs started in July, when 93 employees of its 3,900-strong team were retrenched. It expects a total of 7% to 9% of its workforce to be affected over the next two years, including the third round.
GovTech said it will continue to work with the Public Service Division, Skills and Workforce Development Agency, and Amalgamated Union of Statutory Board Employees to provide career coaching, job matching and placement assistance.
The agency said in July that retrenched staff would receive one month’s salary for every year of service, capped at 25 years; a three-month ex-gratia payment; and salary and benefits through a six-week handover and notice period.
Explaining the need for the changes in GovTech, the agency’s chairman, Chng Kai Fong, had said then that critical systems increasingly demand in-house capabilities so that the agency can respond and adjust quickly to national needs.
The agency expects to employ more people at the end of the exercise, Mr Chng said. “We need more software engineers, product managers, designers, data specialists and cybersecurity professionals.”
Checks by The Straits Times on Oct 22 found around 270 open positions listed by GovTech on Careers@Gov, the jobs portal for those looking to join the civil service.
Jobs listed by the agency include software engineers, product managers, product operations specialists, data scientists and engineers, and designers. THE STRAITS TIMES
