NTUC opposes Agoda's alleged unfair retrenchment of 50 staff

NTUC and the Singapore Industrial and Services Employees’ Union (SISEU) have issued a joint statement on 17 September 2025 condemning online travel agency Agoda Company Pte Ltd (Agoda) for the way it conducted the retrenchment of 50 local employees.

NTUC and SISEU said that they were “appalled” that Agoda had allegedly warned the affected workers, through their severance letters, against making any reports to the Government or the trade unions.

Workers were also told not to bring any mediation requests, claims or proceedings against Agoda, and doing so would result in a forfeiture of their severance pay and possibly legal claims.

According to the statement, NTUC and SISEU said they are “deeply concerned” that Agoda has allegedly sought to deny its workers access to grievance handling and dispute resolution at a time when they need it the most.

“Workers must never be made to feel threatened or silenced when exercising their rights. NTUC calls on Agoda to clarify its position, and to do what is right for its workers immediately. We also urge the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to investigate this allegation against Agoda as it deeply affects workers’ rights to protection at the workplace,” they said.

Meanwhile, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng also took to Facebook to express his disappointment in the alleged handling of the retrenchment.

He wrote: “Responsible retrenchment practices are not just about compliance — they are about treating workers with dignity, fairness, and respect. Companies have a duty to uphold these principles, especially when livelihoods are at stake.”

Retrenched virtually

The retrenchment was first reported by Business Times (BT) on 17 September 2025.

Sources told BT that Agoda held a closed-door, virtual town hall on 4 August 2025 with its Customer Experience Group (CEG) staff in Singapore, Shanghai and Budapest to announce the retrenchment.

Management informed employees that all CEG roles across the three locations would be cut, citing “cost” pressures and “recruitment challenges” as the reasons.

The layoffs affected staff ranging from customer service specialists to regional managers.

NTUC and SISEU stand ready to assist affected workers

Although Agoda is not a unionised company, NTUC and SISEU said they stand ready to assist both union and non-union members affected by this retrenchment.

This includes connecting workers to the Labour Movement’s network of resources to help them transition to new roles, or if necessary, access to financial support.

Affected members and workers are encouraged to contact SISEU for assistance via email at siseu@ntuc.org.sg or by phone at 6220 3345 (during working hours).

Singaporeans or Permanent Residents can also tap on NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) job matching services, career coaching and skills upgrading advisory.

Responsible retrenchment

Under the Employment Act (EA), employers with at least 10 employees must submit a Mandatory Retrenchment Notification to MOM within five working days after the employee has been notified of his retrenchment.

When it comes to downsizing one’s workforce, employers should also abide by the terms laid out in the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment.

NTUC would like to remind all companies to abide by employment laws and guidelines, and to treat all workers with dignity and respect.

Agoda’s controversies

Agoda has not been a stranger to controversies as of late.

In local news, the Straits Times reported on 16 June 2025 that the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) had raised concerns about some of Agoda’s misleading online booking features.

On 23 June 2025, Japan Wire reported that the Japan Tourism Agency urged Agoda to improve its business practices after a surge of booking related issues.

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