GovTech retrenches 38 employees in second wave of layoffs

The Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) has laid off 38 employees in its second round of layoffs, as part of a three-phase reduction strategy. According to a media statement from GovTech on October 22, the 38 affected staff members primarily worked on traditional project delivery. After the workforce review, 106 officers retained their positions, while 106 others were offered conversion and apprenticeship pathways to transition into new roles, supported by the agency.

This retrenchment is GovTech's second of three rounds, with an estimated 7 to 9 percent of its workforce being affected over the next two years. The agency aims to reduce reliance on vendors and increase in-house capabilities to maintain control and agility in modern technology development. As the world becomes more digital, the need for critical government digital infrastructure has grown significantly, and legacy systems become harder to secure, modify, and maintain.

Chng Kai Fong, GovTech's chairman, emphasised that modern technology development demands greater control and accountability for core systems. Services like Singpass, Parents Gateway, and CDC vouchers exemplify this shift, as they require continuous building, operating, securing, and improving. Despite the layoffs, GovTech expects to employ more people in the long run, particularly in software engineering, product management, design, data science, and cybersecurity.

Currently, there are around 270 open positions listed on GovTech's careers portal for those interested in joining the civil service.