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Retrenched in Singapore? Your first 30 days

Updated 27 September 2026

Being retrenched is hard, and the first few weeks are full of paperwork and worry. This guide keeps it simple: what you are owed, what to check, and where to get help. You are not on your own, and there is real support available.

What your employer owes you

  • All your pay on your last day: salary to your last day, unused annual leave, and notice pay (or pay in lieu of notice).
  • Notice as set out in your contract.
  • A retrenchment benefit if you have at least 2 years’ service. It is not required by law, but the tripartite norm is 2 weeks to 1 month of salary for each year worked (unionised companies usually pay 1 month). With less than 2 years, you may get an ex-gratia payment.
  • Companies with 10 or more staff must tell MOM within 5 working days of informing you.

Check your final pay

  • CPF should be paid on your leave encashment, but not on pay in lieu of notice or on the retrenchment benefit itself.
  • Keep your contract, retrenchment letter, final payslip and CPF statement. You need them for Jobseeker Support and for any claim.
  • Not paid what your contract promises? File with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) within 6 months. If you think it was really an unfair dismissal, the deadline is 1 month from your last day. Union members can go to their union first.

Help you can claim

  • SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support: up to $6,000 over six months if you qualify.
  • Free career coaching and job matching from SWDA (formerly Workforce Singapore) and from e2i and NTUC’s U PME Centre.
  • Your SkillsFuture Credit for courses. If you are 40 or above, you also have a $4,000 mid-career credit.
  • MediShield Life keeps covering you whether or not you are working.
  • Paying off an HDB loan? HDB can reschedule or lower instalments if you are in difficulty. Contact them early.

A simple 30-day plan

  • Week 1: check your final pay, keep your documents, and apply for Jobseeker Support.
  • Week 2: book a free career coaching session and update your CV.
  • Week 3: set up job alerts and apply to a few roles you are a strong match for, not dozens you are not.
  • Week 4: follow up, go to one career event, and look at whether a course or a Career Conversion Programme would open more doors.

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