SHATEC retrenches 42 staff amid scale-down and sale of Bukit Batok campus
Forty-two employees have been laid off from hospitality training institute SHATEC as part of a “business containment exercise” linked to an ongoing restructuring and sale of its Bukit Batok premises.
- SHATEC retrenched 42 staff and is reviewing its long-term plans after a scale-down exercise that began in April.
- Its Bukit Batok campus has been listed for sale at an asking price of about S$18 million.
- The institution will continue its education and training programmes until at least March 2026.
SINGAPORE: Forty-two employees have been retrenched from SHATEC following a “business containment exercise” as the institution scales down operations, the hospitality training centre announced on 3 July 2025.
The move, effective since April, comes as SHATEC begins reviewing its long-term plans.
Formerly known as the Singapore Hotel Association Training and Education Centre, SHATEC was established in 1983 by the Singapore Hotel Association to train professionals entering the local hospitality industry.
In a joint statement released with the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU), SHATEC said it will continue to offer ongoing continuing education and training courses.
It will also support its final batch of pre-employment training students until March 2026 or the respective programme end date, whichever is later.
When asked about speculation that the school might close, SHATEC board chairman Loh Lik Peng did not confirm any closure but said the institution was “in the early stages of reviewing its long-term plans,” according to state media CNA.
Campus placed on market for S$18 million
As part of its asset-management strategy, SHATEC’s Bukit Batok premises have been listed for sale.
Real estate group CBRE, managing the sale, confirmed that the property was placed on the market in May.
The asking price is approximately S$18 million (US$14 million), with the lease running until 2051.
Retrenchment aimed at “right-sizing” operations
The joint statement noted that the board’s decision followed “careful consideration and thorough evaluation of its current operation’s commercial viability.”
It added that the retrenchment and scale-down would allow the centre to reposition itself and chart a sustainable future.
Loh described the exercise as a “normal business decision” aimed at ensuring sustainability through “right-sizing” of operations.
Union support for affected staff
SHATEC provided advance notice to FDAWU regarding the retrenchments.
The union has been coordinating with the school’s management to support affected staff and ensure that fair compensation packages are extended to the 42 employees.
Loh said the school’s board will announce further details on its future plans in the coming months, adding that SHATEC remains committed to supporting both students and staff.
