Public officers on contract and permanent employment

Parliament Sitting: 4 August 2026

Mr Fadli Fawzi: To ask the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) of the current public service officers, what percentage of them are employed on a contract and permanent basis respectively; (b) whether there is a trend of moving away from employing officers on a permanent basis; and (c) how does the Public Service manage underperforming officers employed on a contract and permanent basis respectively.

Written Reply by Mr Chan Chun Sing, Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service

Public agencies may appoint officers on permanent or contract terms, depending on operational and workforce requirements. Contract appointments may be used to assess an officer's suitability for a longer-term career in the Public Service, or to support specific projects over a defined period.

As at 31 Dec 2025, 15% of employed officers were on contract, excluding those on re-employment contracts. Permanent appointments continue to account for the majority of the Public Service workforce.

All public officers – regardless of whether they are appointed on permanent or contract terms – are expected to meet the required performance standards. Supervisors in turn are to support the officers' development — through feedback, coaching, and support to help officers improve their performance. Where an officer's performance falls below expectations, the agency and supervisor will work with the officer to identify areas for improvement, set clear performance expectations, provide appropriate support and coaching, and review progress over an appropriate period. Officers who consistently are unable to perform at the required expectations may have their permanent or contract service terminated.