Dr. Robert Yap, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), has announced his resignation after a decade of service, following the identification of a governance procedural lapse during a routine internal review. The SNEF council disclosed this development in a statement on June 11, 2024.

In response to the governance issues, the council has engaged an external consultant to conduct a comprehensive review of their internal processes. SNEF emphasized its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of governance, noting that no financial implications have been reported as a result of the lapse. The council will oversee the independent review to ensure transparency and accountability.

Dr. Yap expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve SNEF, stating, “I have worked hard to advance the interests of my members and tripartism in Singapore. It is never easy, but I have done what I can. It is also time to hand over the reins of leadership.” He supported the council’s decision to engage an external consultant for the review, highlighting the importance of assessing governance procedures for ongoing improvement.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has been informed of Dr. Yap’s resignation and is awaiting updates on the outcome of SNEF’s review, requesting documentation once the process is complete. MOM noted that there are currently no indications of financial implications from the governance lapse and affirmed that the tripartite process will remain unchanged.

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) acknowledged Dr. Yap’s contributions to SNEF and reiterated its commitment to uphold tripartism alongside SNEF and MOM, recognizing it as a cornerstone of Singapore’s success.