Singapore Post is preparing to lay off 45 employees – primarily from corporate support functions – with a few roles affected within its international business unit.

The company said the restructuring exercise aims to streamline operations and reinforce the efficiency of business units by eliminating overlapping functions.

A SingPost spokesperson said the decision was not taken lightly, adding that all avenues to redeploy affected employees within the company had been explored before arriving at this course of action.

The company also said the restructuring is driven by persistent macroeconomic pressures and intensifying competition in the postal and logistics sector.

“We wish to emphasise that this initiative is not correlated with any previous incidents or whistleblowing reports,” the spokesperson clarified, addressing any speculation linking the layoffs to past internal investigations.

A commitment to employee welfare and support

SingPost has assured that affected employees will be provided with outplacement services and counselling support to ease their transition.

The company has been working closely with the Union of Telecoms Employees of Singapore – under which it is unionised – to ensure a responsible and fair retrenchment process.

UTES General-Secretary Thuvinder Singh confirmed that the union had been briefed in advance and that SingPost had explored all possible alternatives before making any job cuts.

The two camps have reportedly worked together to ensure that affected workers receive fair compensation packages in accordance with the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment.

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Apart from SingPost’s support, UTES and the National Trades Union Congress said they will provide job-matching services, career advisory resources, and access to retraining programmes through NTUC LearningHub.

For those seeking to upskill, affected union members will also be eligible for Union Training Assistance Programme funding to help offset training costs.

The restructuring follows a high-profile executive shakeup at SingPost in December 2024 when the company dismissed its group CEO Vincent Phang, group CFO Vincent Yik, and the chief executive of its international business unit, Li Yu, after an internal investigation found them to be “grossly negligent” in handling a whistleblower report.

Facing industry headwinds

SingPost’s restructuring efforts reflect the broader challenges facing the postal and logistics sector.

With traditional postal services in decline and e-commerce logistics becoming increasingly competitive, businesses are being forced to rethink their operational strategies to stay agile.

SingPost aims to enhance its long-term sustainability by decentralising corporate functions and strengthening business unit autonomy.

The company has yet to announce a successor for its group CEO position, though it has confirmed that Isaac Mah, CFO of SingPost’s Australian business, has stepped in as the new group CFO.

Meanwhile, Gan Heng is serving as the acting CEO of the international business unit.

With SingPost moving forward with its transformation strategy, the focus remains on improving operational efficiency and deepening its commitment to employee welfare.

The company is working to ensure that those affected by the restructuring receive the necessary support to transition into new roles.