'I am sorry': GovTech chairman on retrenchment exercise
«I am sorry.» That was the message from Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) chairman Chng Kai Fong to all affected staff in the agency's retrenchment exercise. «I am sorry for the disruption to you and your families. Thank you for what you have given GovTech and Singapore,» he said.GovTech announced on Wednesday (July 15) that it will be reducing its headcount by up to nine per cent over the next two years, as it shifts to build and manage its own digital products.In a note to GovTech officers, which was seen by AsiaOne, Chng acknowledged that this was «difficult news» and thanked the affected staff.«The systems you built are running in production today and serving Singaporeans. That contribution endures and it will remain part of GovTech's story,» he said. He also addressed the officers who remain, saying: «To colleagues who are staying: we owe it to those leaving to make this transformation real, not another reorganisation on paper.» A total of 305 staff from GovTech headquarters and in project and vendor management roles are affected by the first of three planned waves of job cuts.