News analysis

More longer-term plans needed to ease labour market pains in Singapore

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It has been a record-breaking few months, but not in a good way.

The three months from April to June saw an unprecedented high of 81,720 employees, both local and foreign, being placed on short work weeks or temporarily laid off, according to data released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Monday.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 16, 2020, with the headline More longer-term plans needed to ease labour market pains in Singapore. Subscribe