SATS Raises Retirement and Re-employment Ages to Support Senior Workforce, Benefitting Over 700 Employees
Singapore, 1 July 2025 – SATS Ltd. (“SATS”), a global leader in aviation cargo and ground handling services and Asia’s leading airline caterer, announced today that it has raised the retirement age to 64 and re-employment age to 69 for employees based at its Singapore headquarters.
Under the new policy, eligible employees who reach the retirement age will be offered re-employment contracts up to the re-employment age of 69.
The policy takes effect immediately, marking a proactive step taken a year ahead of the Singapore Government's scheduled legislative change. It is expected to benefit more than 700 employees who will reach the retirement and re-employment age in 2025. On average, these employees have served SATS for 30 years.
Tan Chee Wei, Chief Human Capital Officer, SATS Ltd., said, “This progressive move, undertaken in collaboration with our union partners, reflects our dedication to building an inclusive, future-ready organisation and supporting our mature employees who wish to continue contributing their skills and experience. We believe that taking early action enables us to better recognise and retain the valuable contributions of our experienced workforce. “This initiative reinforces SATS’ commitment to supporting a multi-generational workforce and fostering a culture of inclusivity, respect for experience, and strong labour-management relations.”
To promote long-term employability, SATS has implemented job redesign initiatives aimed at creating more fulfilling and sustainable career paths. These efforts help align roles with evolving business needs while enhancing employee engagement and growth. The company is also committed to continuous learning and development for all employees, regardless of age, ensuring they remain equipped to meet evolving job requirements.
“We believe in supporting our employees in building fulfilling and meaningful careers where they feel truly appreciated. Mature employees are provided the same training and development opportunities as their younger colleagues, in alignment with their job roles,” added Tan.
One example is SATS Employee Development Programme, which is opened to all employees and includes modules on topics such as growth mindset and respecting differences in the workplace. Additionally, employees in roles requiring digital competencies also undergo targeted training to ensure they can perform effectively in a tech-enabled environment.
Goviden Sathasivam, General Secretary, SATS Workers’ Union (SATSWU), said, “The union is encouraged by our fruitful discussions with SATS on raising the retirement and re-employment ages, which provide assurance of job security for our senior workers. SATS has also introduced initiatives to support them, such as skills training. We look forward to the continued partnership with SATS in supporting our senior workers and advancing our shared goals.”
Cham Hui Fong, Deputy Secretary-General of National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Executive Secretary of SATS Workers’ Union (SATSWU) said, “NTUC and SATS have been collaborating through Company Training Committee projects to enhance business and workforce productivity. These projects leverage technology for job redesign and provide upskilling and reskilling opportunities. This approach boosts workforce efficiency and enables older workers to extend their careers, remaining valuable contributors within the organisation. As Singapore strengthens its position as a regional aviation hub, such efforts are crucial in building a dynamic and adaptable workforce.”