Dear Friends,
The recent GovTech retrenchment raises two important questions.
Firstly, what responsibility does the government have towards workers hired to serve the nation?
And, is the government practising what it preaches when it tells companies to invest in workers, reskill workers, and only retrench workers as a last resort?
Whole-of-Government Approach – Just a Slogan?
The GovTech workers were reportedly not retrenched because they performed poorly. Rather, they were retrenched because GovTech decided that their roles were no longer required. That is an important difference. It means they did not fail the organisation. The organisation no longer had a place for them.
But government ministries and statutory boards should not operate as separate silos. And the government regularly speaks about taking a whole-of-government approach when addressing national problems.
In addition, the government has resources that most private companies do not have. It oversees a very large network of ministries, agencies and public institutions. It therefore has a greater ability—and a greater responsibility—to find solutions.
So, was a proper whole-of-government exercise carried out to identify vacancies in its network of agencies? Were the affected workers given opportunities to transfer? Were they offered training to take up related positions? These are reasonable questions.
GovTech chairman Chng Kai Fong is also a Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information. Given these roles, he is well placed to work across ministries and agencies. Surely, this should make it possible to explore a coordinated solution for affected workers instead of treating the matter solely as an internal GovTech restructuring exercise.
What Happened to Reskilling?
For many years, Singaporeans have been told to “upskill”, to “reskill”, and to remain adaptable and prepare for changing industries.
Millions in public funds have been spent promoting these messages to private-sector workers, and to corporations.
The government should now practise what it preaches.
When roles become redundant in a government agency, the first response to workers should not simply be: “Take the money and go.”
If the Government cannot successfully reskill and redeploy its own workers across its many ministries and agencies, how can it expect private companies – many of them smaller SMEs – to do better?
What Does this Signal to Private Employers?
When a major government agency retrenches workers because certain positions have become redundant, private companies would naturally see this as permission to do the same.
It makes it easy for them to decide that there is no need to seriously consider retraining, redeployment or temporary cost-saving measures to protect jobs.
This is especially worrying during a difficult employment period. Singaporean PMETs, including many skilled graduates, are already facing stiff competition in the job market.
There have been numerous accounts of jobseekers sending hundreds of applications, only to receive rejection after rejection. Some do not even receive a reply. Others find themselves competing for junior positions despite having qualifications and years of experience.
Against this background, the Government must be very careful about the example it sets.
It cannot tell private employers to value workers, invest in training and avoid unnecessary retrenchments while its own agencies take the easiest route when restructuring becomes necessary.
Government Must Lead by Example
Workers are not disposable parts. They have families, housing payments and daily expenses. Many have spent years developing specialised skills and serving the public.
When their roles disappear through no fault of their own, they deserve more than a compensation package and a farewell message. They deserve a serious effort to help them continue contributing.
The SDA believes the government must lead by example.
Disclose what efforts were made to retrain and redeploy the affected GovTech employees.
Establish a clear whole-of-government framework requiring ministries and statutory boards to consider internal transfers before retrenchments are carried out.
After spending years telling Singaporeans to adapt, reskill and remain employable, the government must now show that these words have meaning.
Protect livelihoods. Find solutions. Have a heart for the people.
Desmond Lim
Chairman
Singapore Democratic Alliance
