Oral Answer to PQ on Grab Retrenchment

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1998 OF 2023 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 5 JUL 2023
QUESTION NO. 4788 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Mr Saktiandi Supaat

To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) when did the Ministry became aware of Grab Holdings’ decision to cut 1,000 jobs or 11% of its workforce, given Grab Holdings’ statement in September 2022 that it had no plans to undertake mass layoffs; (b) what proportion of those jobs that are cut are held by Singaporean workers; and (c) whether the Ministry is engaging with Grab Holdings with a view to facilitate the transition of displaced workers into suitable jobs.

Answer:

1. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) became aware of Grabtaxi Holdings’ decision to cut jobs on 20 June 2023. The Ministry has also received their Mandatory Retrenchment Notifications (MRNs) which were submitted within 5 working days after affected employees were notified of their retrenchment, as legally required under the Employment Act.

2. Based on the retrenchment notifications received by MOM, the workforce profile of Grabtaxi Holdings before and after the retrenchment exercise is largely similar.

3. Digital Industry Singapore (DISG) is working with the Taskforce for Responsible Retrenchment and Employment Facilitation, comprising representatives from MOM, Workforce Singapore (WSG), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (NTUC’s e2i), to facilitate a smooth transition of the affected staff. In particular, e2i is in touch with Grabtaxi Holdings and has offered career coaching services, employability workshops and other employment facilitation initiatives