Singapore Retirement Age to Rise to 65 and Re-employment Age to 70 from 2029
Singapore is bringing forward its plans to increase the retirement age and re-employment age, giving older workers more opportunities to remain employed and earn an income for longer.
Under the latest announcement, Singapore’s statutory retirement age will increase from 64 to 65, while the re-employment age will rise from 69 to 70, effective 1 January 2029. This is one year earlier than the previously planned timeline of 2030.
The changes follow recommendations from the Tripartite Workgroup on Senior Employment, involving the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF).
The government is also introducing additional support for senior employees, including more flexible job arrangements, improved financial assistance and enhanced employment incentives for businesses.
Singapore Retirement Age and Re-employment Age from 2029
The new policy will allow eligible older workers to remain in employment for a longer period.
| Employment Policy | Current Age (2026) | From 1 January 2029 |
| Retirement Age | 64 | 65 |
| Re-employment Age | 69 | 70 |
Why Singapore Increasing the Retirement Age?
Singapore’s population is ageing, and more people are expected to remain in the workforce beyond their traditional retirement years.
According to the Tripartite Workgroup on Senior Employment, workers aged 50 and above accounted for around 40% of Singapore’s labour force in 2025, compared with approximately 34% in 2015.
The government expects one in four Singaporeans to be aged 65 and above by 2030.
The revised retirement policy aims to:
- Give older workers more opportunities to continue earning an income.
- Improve financial security during retirement.
- Retain experienced employees in the workforce.
- Encourage employers to provide flexible working arrangements.
- Support businesses facing workforce shortages.
- Promote a multigenerational working environment.
New Support Measures for Older Workers in Singapore
Apart from increasing the retirement age, Singapore has announced several measures to help older employees remain active in the workforce.
1. New Flexi-Load Programme for Senior Workers
A new Flexi-Load Programme will encourage employers to create more jobs with flexible workloads for older employees.
These arrangements may include:
- Part-time employment.
- Flexible working hours and workloads.
- Project-based employment opportunities.
- Fractional job arrangements.
- Career planning and job redesign.
The programme will replace the existing Part-time Re-employment Grant, which ends after 2027.
Unlike the existing scheme, the new programme will cover workers aged 50 and above. Employers will need to demonstrate that they have created additional flexible-workload positions.
This initiative aims to help employees balance work with personal responsibilities, caregiving and health needs.
2. New Re-employment Credit from 2028
Singapore will introduce a new Re-employment Credit from 2028 to help employers manage the cost of retaining senior employees.
- The scheme will replace the existing Senior Employment Credit.
- The current Senior Employment Credit
- redit provides wage offsets of up to 7% for eligible employers hiring Singaporean workers aged 60 and above who earn less than S$4,000 per month.
- The new scheme will have a higher wage ceiling to account for wage growth.
Further implementation details will be announced by the government.
3. Higher Earned Income Relief for Older Workers
The government will enhance Earned Income Relief for employees who continue working beyond the retirement and re-employment ages. The measure aims to increase the take-home income of older employees and encourage them to remain economically active.
Eligible workers aged 55 and above can already claim Earned Income Relief, with the amount depending on their age. The enhanced relief will provide additional support under the new senior employment measures.
4. Increased Employment Assistance Payment
Older employees who qualify for re-employment but cannot secure another position may receive an Employment Assistance Payment (EAP).
The government plans to increase the minimum and maximum payment limits to reflect wage growth in recent years.
This financial assistance is intended to support eligible employees who are unable to obtain re-employment and need time to find another job.
5. Better Support for Lower-Wage Senior Employees
Singapore will also strengthen financial support for lower-wage older workers.
The Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) will be enhanced to provide additional assistance through cash payments and Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions.
The Progressive Wage Credit Scheme will also be updated to support employers providing wage increases to lower-paid employees.
These measures aim to improve the financial position of older workers while encouraging businesses to retain experienced employees.
Will Employers have to Re-employ Workers Until Age 70?
Yes. From 1 January 2029, employers must offer eligible employees re-employment opportunities up to the new statutory re-employment age of 70.
However, employees must meet the applicable eligibility requirements.
Under Singapore’s existing re-employment framework, employees generally need to:
- Be Singapore citizens or permanent residents.
- Have served their current employer for at least two years before reaching the retirement age, subject to the applicable rules for employees hired at age 55 and above.
- Have satisfactory work performance.
- Be medically fit to continue working.
Eligible employees who wish to continue working should discuss their re-employment arrangements with their employers before reaching retirement age.
If an employer cannot offer re-employment, it may transfer the re-employment obligation to another employer with the employee’s agreement or provide an Employment Assistance Payment, subject to the applicable rules.
When Will Singapore’s New Retirement Age Rules Take Effect?
The new retirement and re-employment age limits will take effect on 1 January 2029.
| Date | Retirement Age | Re-employment Age |
| Before 1 July 2026 | 63 | 68 |
| From 1 July 2026 | 64 | 69 |
| From 1 January 2029 | 65 | 70 |
What Does the New Retirement Age Mean for Singapore Workers?
The new policy gives older employees more opportunities to remain in the workforce if they wish to continue their careers.
It also encourages employers to rethink traditional employment arrangements by offering part-time roles, flexible workloads and opportunities for experienced employees to mentor younger workers.
For businesses, retaining senior employees can help preserve valuable workplace knowledge and experience.
However, the new retirement age does not mean that every employee must work until 65 or 70. Employees can still choose to retire earlier based on their personal circumstances and retirement plans.
Where to Check Singapore Retirement and Re-employment Rules?
Employees and employers can obtain official information about retirement eligibility, re-employment requirements and employment support schemes through the Ministry of Manpower.
- Official Website: www.mom.gov.sg
- Re-employment Information: www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/re-employment
Workers should check the latest MOM announcements for detailed implementation guidelines and eligibility conditions.
FAQ
1. What is Singapore’s new retirement age from 2029?
- Singapore’s statutory retirement age will increase from 64 to 65 from 1 January 2029.
2. What will Singapore’s re-employment age be in 2029?
- The re-employment age will increase from 69 to 70 from 1 January 2029, allowing eligible older workers to continue working for longer.
3. When will Singapore increase the retirement age to 65?
- The new retirement age of 65 will take effect on 1 January 2029, one year earlier than the previous 2030 target.
4. Can Singapore employees work until age 70?
- Yes. Eligible employees can receive re-employment opportunities up to age 70 under the new rules starting in 2029.
5. Will the new retirement age apply to all employees?
- The statutory retirement and re-employment age requirements apply under Singapore’s Retirement and Re-employment Act. Eligibility for re-employment is subject to citizenship or permanent residency, service duration, work performance and medical fitness requirements.
6. What is the new Flexi-Load Programme in Singapore?
- The Flexi-Load Programme is a new initiative designed to encourage employers to create flexible-workload jobs for older employees aged 50 and above. It will replace the existing Part-time Re-employment Grant after 2027.
7. Will older workers receive additional financial support?
- Yes. Singapore plans to enhance Earned Income Relief, increase Employment Assistance Payment limits and strengthen support through the Workfare Income Supplement and other wage-support measures.
Conclusion
Singapore’s decision to raise the retirement age to 65 and re-employment age to 70 from 2029 marks an important development for its ageing workforce.
Alongside the revised age limits, new flexible employment arrangements, financial assistance and employer incentives are expected to create more opportunities for older workers.
Employees approaching retirement should review the new arrangements and stay updated through the Ministry of Manpower to understand their employment rights and available support.
