Singapore Turf Club's 2027 closure: Employees to be offboarded in phases, receive career guidance, and more

The Club is working with the Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers' Union to ensure a smooth transition for affected employees.

On 5 June 2023 (Monday), the Singapore Government announced that about 120 hectares of land in Kranji, where the Singapore Racecourse sits, will be returned to the Government in 2027 for redevelopment purposes. As such, the Singapore Turf Club (STC), which houses the Racecourse, will close its facility by March 2027.

According to media reports, such as by TODAY and The Straits Times, STC currently employs about 350 workers, all of whom will be affected by this closure.

Responding to the update, Andy Lim, Secretary-General of the Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU) – under which the STC is unionised, shared that the management of STC and the union have had a town hall communication with all employees, and further consultations with individual employees to address any concerns from the closure.

He stressed: "For the union, we will follow through the process closely and ensure a smooth transition while protecting the rights of the workers." 

SMMWU is working with STC to discuss retrenchment incentives and ways to address the emotional wellbeing of workers and the placement of older workers. In steps to achieve this, the union is in liaison with relevant National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) agencies such as NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) and NTUC LearningHub, and a network of companies for job placement and skills training.

A press release by STC reaffirmed that employees will be offboarded in phases, following the Ministry of Manpower’s guidelines and policies. Further, employees will receive a retrenchment package to support their transition, personal career guidance, skills-training courses, and counselling on job placement to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge for employment.

Over the next three years, it added, the Club will engage with stakeholders and address their respective needs; and implement a step-by-step, phased approach for business needs to ensure a smooth handover and fully functional operations. During this process, STC will give its support and assistance.

Singapore Turf Club President and Chief Executive, Irene MK Lim, commented: "During this time, affected employees and those working within the horse racing community will have ample time to consider their career options and manage their personal commitments."

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Photo: STC's website