(Feb 20): Singapore Post (SingPost) will be cutting its headcount by about 45 employees as part of a restructuring, in what’s at least the third instance of personnel changes since a whistle-blower report alleged the postal services provider was fudging some parcels delivery data.

The reductions will mainly be in the corporate support units, with a small number from the International Business Unit set to be affected in the coming months, according to an emailed statement from the company’s spokesperson. The restructuring is the result of prolonged marco-economic challenges facing the business, including intense competition, the statement said.

The initiative aims to eliminate duplicate functions, and improve business efficiency, the spokesperson said, adding that the move wasn’t related to any previous incidents or whistle-blowing reports.

The Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd-backed firm, which posted a 12% year-on-year rise in its third-quarter revenue, has been under pressure to repair its reputation after the allegations surfaced in December. The whistle-blower report had alleged that several employees manually submitted information, intending to avoid contracted penalties with one of SingPost’s largest customers.

That was followed by SingPost firing its chief executive officer as well as some other senior executives. Subsequently, SingPost’s CEO of local operations stepped down.

SingPost earlier reaffirmed its intent to progressively divest and unlock the value of non-core businesses and assets. “With the proposed divestment of the Australian business, there may be adjustments in the phasing and timing of further disposals,” it said in its third-quarter business update.

Uploaded by Tham Yek Lee