Changi Travel Services cuts 30 staff amid market shifts

[SINGAPORE] Changi Travel Services (CTS) is laying off 30 staff as part of an ongoing restructuring process to tackle changing market conditions, it said on Thursday (Aug 21).

Affected staff will receive a severance package of four weeks for every year of employment, with no minimum service period.

A company spokesperson said: “The decision was made after careful consideration and is aimed at strengthening CTS’ positioning and ensuring sustainable growth.

“We are committed to supporting the affected employees through this transition, including working with relevant parties to identify suitable vacancies in Changi Airport and elsewhere.”

CTS is a Changi Airport Group subsidiary that provides foreign exchange and other services to travellers.

The firm did not elaborate on which business segments were affected by the layoffs or changed market conditions that spurred the move.

The spokesperson added that the company’s focus is now on executing its strategy to ensure sustainable growth after the restructuring exercise.

Azman Osman, president of the Attractions, Resorts & Entertainment Union (AREU), which is affiliated to the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), said on Aug 21 that CTS is not a unionised company.

However, he added: “In retrenchment exercises where there are union members working in non-unionised companies, NTUC’s affiliated unions or associations will extend assistance to these members should they be affected by the exercises.”

The union will provide assistance and resources to any affected union member, including connecting them to networks such as NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).

Eligible union members can also tap the Union Training Assistance Programme to offset training costs if they need skills upgrading.

More broadly, Azman said Singaporeans and permanent residents can tap e2i’s job matching services, career coaching and skills upgrading advisory services.

Affected workers who are Singaporeans can also receive more employment support through the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme by participating in e2i’s job search activities, he added.

The scheme provides temporary financial support of up to S$6,000 for up to six months for involuntarily unemployed individuals.

“The scheme serves to increase the chances of finding a job that makes better use of job seekers’ skills and experiences,” Azman said.

He also encouraged affected union members and workers to contact AREU for assistance via e-mail at areu@ntuc.org.sg. THE STRAITS TIMES