DHL unit retrenches S’pore workers in ‘restructuring exercise for long-term sustainability’

SINGAPORE – A DHL unit in Singapore has laid off its workers, but it remains unclear which roles were affected, as the company declined to provide details.

Online chatter on retrenchments at DHL Global Forwarding Singapore first surfaced two months ago, and on March 30, a Reddit user posted details of the company’s latest retrenchment exercise in a forum that discusses workplace culture.

A spokesman for the freight transport company on March 31 confirmed the retrenchment exercise in response to queries from The Straits Times.

“We are aware of the online discussions regarding retrenchment matters in Singapore. We remain committed to treating all employees with fairness and respect, in full compliance with local regulations and our internal policies,” said the spokesman in an e-mail.

“Any workforce-related decisions we make are guided by current business needs and based on merit,” the spokesman said, adding that the company would not be providing further details.

According to Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority records, DHL Global Forwarding Singapore is a division under DHL Group that provides international freight forwarding services. The unit has two Singapore offices – at 1 Changi South Street and 81 Alps Avenue.

The Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers’ Union (SMMWU) said on April 2 that DHL Global Forwarding Singapore – a unionised company – let go of three employees in its latest exercise on March 31.

In a statement on April 1, a union spokesman said it was informed of the company’s restructuring exercise, “part of a larger organisational realignment for long-term sustainability”.

SMMWU said it is working with the company closely to ensure that affected workers are treated fairly, adding: “The union also worked with the company to ensure that the affected workers will receive a fair severance package, in line with the collective agreement.”

The latest collective agreement between the union and the company published in the Government Gazette on March 19 stated that retrenched employees would be given one month’s notice or one month’s gross salary.

Those who have worked for the company for at least two years are entitled to retrenchment benefits – a sum equivalent to one month of the last drawn basic salary for each year of service.

The maximum retrenchment benefit is capped at 25 months based on the last drawn basic salary, or what the employee would have earned up to retirement age had the employee not been retrenched, whichever is lower.

Even as the Singapore unit lays off workers, a check by ST on job openings on its website on April 1 showed at least 10 Singapore-based roles in areas such as business development and air freight import.

Jobs platform LinkedIn’s postings suggest there are about 360 employees in DHL Global Forwarding Singapore.

According to DHL Group’s annual report 2025, the global logistics firm has about 584,000 employees in over 220 countries and territories.

ST contacted the Ministry of Manpower on April 1 about whether it has been notified of the layoffs.

Under the ministry’s current rules, employers with at least 10 employees must notify it within five days after retrenching workers, regardless of the number affected.