Singapore will raise its retirement age to 65 and re-employment age to 70 on 1 January 2029, bringing forward the planned increases by one year.
The current ages are 64 and 69, following the last increase on 1 July 2026.
The Government announced on 26 October that it had accepted all six recommendations from the Tripartite Workgroup on Senior Employment. Beyond the age changes, these cover flexible jobs, career guidance and financial support for workers and employers.
What the Higher Ages Mean
The retirement age protects employees covered by the law from being dismissed because of their age before they reach that threshold.
The re-employment age sets how long employers must offer continued employment to eligible workers who reach retirement age.
From 2029, those thresholds will become 65 and 70 respectively, giving eligible older workers a longer period of employment protection if they want to keep working.
Under current Ministry of Manpower rules, re-employment eligibility includes being a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, having satisfactory work performance and being medically fit to continue working. Additional service requirements apply to employees hired at age 55 or older.
If an eligible employee cannot be offered re-employment, the employer must either transfer that obligation to another employer with the worker’s agreement, or offer a one-off Employment Assistance Payment.
More Flexible Jobs for Workers Aged 50 & Above
A new Flexi-Load Programme will help employers create jobs with reduced workloads, such as part-time work or job sharing, with pay adjusted accordingly.
It will cover workers aged 50 and above and replace the Part-Time Re-employment Grant when that grant expires at the end of 2027.
Funding will be linked to employers creating additional flexible roles. It will help cover the transition costs of adapting jobs, systems and workplace policies that were built around full-time employment.
The workgroup said these arrangements could help seniors balance work with caregiving, health needs and other commitments.
A new programme office for career longevity will also support career planning, skills development and job transitions. The Skills and Workforce Development Agency will lead it, working with NTUC and the Singapore National Employers Federation.
Higher Tax Relief & Financial Support
The accepted recommendations include enhancing Earned Income Relief for seniors working beyond the statutory retirement and re-employment ages.
The recommended minimum and maximum Employment Assistance Payment amounts will also rise to reflect wage growth. This payment helps eligible workers who are not re-employed while they look for another job.
For employers, a new Re-Employment Credit will replace the Senior Employment Credit from 2028, supporting the hiring and retention of workers beyond the statutory ages.
Lower-wage seniors will receive support through enhancements to Workfare Income Supplement. The Progressive Wage Credit Scheme, which helps employers fund wage increases for lower-wage workers, will also be updated.
Further details of the measures will be released in the first half of 2027.
