Agoda’s recent retrenchment of 50 staff in Singapore has sparked controversy over alleged gag clauses in severance agreements. These clauses reportedly warned employees against contacting the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) or unions, threatening forfeiture of payouts. MOM has launched an investigation, while NTUC and SISEU condemned the practice as a violation of worker rights.
The layoffs affected customer support teams in Singapore, Shanghai, and Budapest, with Agoda citing operational efficiency. Critics, however, claim the move was driven by quota compliance and lacked transparency. As public scrutiny grows, unions are offering support to affected workers and calling for fairer retrenchment standards.
Singapore’s Q2 labour market report shows a widening gap between job openings and accessibility. Vacancies still exceed job seekers, but retrenched workers are re-entering more slowly. The six-month re-entry rate fell to 56.3 per cent, though the 12-month rate rose to 71.2 percent.
Employment grew by 10,400, and retrenchments stayed low at 3,540. MOM plans to improve job matching through Career Health SG and SkillsFuture.
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- Wed, 17 September 2025 at 5:43 pm GMT-7
Joel Balbin
Agoda’s retrenchment of 50 staff in Singapore has triggered a storm over alleged gag clauses in severance agreements. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and unions are demanding accountability and transparency. (Photo: Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Agoda’s recent layoffs of around 50 staff have ignited a fierce debate over retrenchment ethics in Singapore. The company allegedly included clauses in severance agreements that warned employees against contacting Ministry of Manpower (MOM) or unions, or risk losing their payouts.
According to the Straits Times, the MOM is now investigating the claims, which unions say violate basic worker protections. NTUC and SISEU have called the alleged clauses “deeply concerning” and urged Agoda to rectify its approach.
The retrenchment affected customer support roles across Singapore, Shanghai and Budapest. While Agoda cited operational efficiency, critics argue the layoffs were quota-driven and lacked transparency.
NTUC emphasised that retrenchment must be more than legal compliance – it must reflect respect and fairness. The unions are offering support to affected workers, regardless of union membership.
Agoda’s silence on the allegations has fuelled public skepticism. MOM’s findings could reshape how severance agreements are structured in Singapore.
The case underscores the need for clearer guidelines on ethical retrenchment and dispute resolution access.
- Wed, 17 September 2025 at 5:44 pm GMT-7
Joel Balbin
People walk on the street during lunch break at Raffles Place in Singapore on January 22, 2025. (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP) (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Singapore’s Q2 labour market report reveals a growing gap between job availability and job accessibility. While vacancies outnumber job seekers, retrenched workers are taking longer to re-enter the workforce.
The six-month re-entry rate dropped to 56.3 per cent, down from 60.6 percent in Q1, though the 12-month rate improved to 71.2 per cent. This suggests longer job searches rather than persistent unemployment.
Total employment rose by 10,400, and retrenchments remained low at 3,540. But MOM cautioned that hiring may slow and wage growth may moderate due to global headwinds.
Employers are becoming more selective, with job vacancies falling to 76,900. Sectors like ICT and professional services are showing signs of softening, while health and finance remain strong.
In its Addendum to the President’s Address, MOM pledged to improve job matching through initiatives like Career Health SG and SkillsFuture. These programmes aim to help workers upskill and navigate a more selective hiring landscape.
