RECENTLY, it was reported that DBS will be axing 900 staff from its Singapore and Hong Kong offices by Christmas.

I sympathise with those employees who will be picked by the bank for retrenchment.

We are currently facing a recession, which is predicted to get worse next year.

Under such circumstances, it will be difficult for a retrenched worker to get a decent job elsewhere.

Another measure employers will take to remain competitive during the economic slowdown is to keep their staff numbers lean.

Retrenched staff can, however, capitalise on this period to upgrade their skills through courses sponsored by their former employers.

In the past, some companies have resorted to cutting staff salaries across the board to avoid laying off workers during hard times.

Staff at senior-management levels would usually accept taking a bigger pay cut, seeing it as a necessary sacrifice for the sake of the company.

It would be good if DBS could consider doing something similar in order to save those who do not wish to be made redundant.

Mr Nelson Quah

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