Organizations in Singapore with over 200 employees will be mandated to have at least one human resources personnel from July 1, 2028, as part of the five recommendations made by the Tripartite Workgroup on Human Capital Capability Development (TWG-HC) that were accepted by the government.

The HR professional must hold the Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) Certified Professional certification or higher, according to a Thursday statement by the Ministry of Manpower.

To encourage earlier certification, the government will provide an additional SG$100 subsidy from Oct. 1 to June 30, 2028.

The other recommendations by the TWG-HC seek to strengthen workforce planning and access to strategic HR expertise, particularly for small and medium enterprises, while helping businesses adopt artificial intelligence effectively and responsibly in HR.

They also aim to professionalize HR through certification requirements and develop people leaders with the skills and support needed to manage future workplace transformation.