SPH Media lays off 11 workers after retiring its previous printing presses

11 manufacturing staff might be laid off from SPH Media, following the decommissioning of two of the corporate’s 30-year-old printing presses which have reached the tip of their operational lifespan.

In response to a information report printed by the Straits Instances yesterday (July 22), SPH Media’s CEO Chan Yeng Package introduced the job cuts in an e-mail despatched to workers on the identical day. The affected workers, together with those that operated the printing presses and had been concerned in newspaper distribution, had been later knowledgeable straight by SPH Media’s Head of Manufacturing, Lim Swee Yeow.

The corporate had additionally explored redeployment alternatives, nonetheless, it was unable to search out appropriate roles for the affected staff. It has knowledgeable the unions and NTUC of the layoffs, and is dedicated in supporting the employees throughout this era of transition.

SPH Media’s upcoming layoffs come on the heels of its resolution earlier this month to wind down Tech in Asia’s Indonesian publication and operations—a transfer that impacted 18% of the group. Tech in Asia was acquired by SPH Media in 2024.

Previous to that, in November 2024, SPH Media reduce 34 know-how roles, affecting 10% of tech staff throughout numerous groups and ranks.

Whereas each earlier rounds of layoffs had been tied to restructuring efforts, the upcoming job cuts outcome from operational opinions as the corporate evolves, in accordance with Chan’s e-mail.

The printing presses which might be being decommissioned—the Colorliner fashions—have a lot decrease capabilities in comparison with SPH Media’s newer Commander presses from Koenig & Bauer (KBA). Transferring ahead, printing operations might be consolidated onto the corporate’s 4 KBA Commander presses, which have undergone updates.

The corporate’s funding in upgrading its printing presses will assist make sure the continued supply of high-quality print operations.

“Print continues to be an vital format and channel via which we interact our audiences each day,” Chan mentioned, emphasising the agency’s steady dedication to fulfill the demand for print codecs even because it makes these modifications.

Pushing ahead regardless of decline in print readership

Whereas print stays a key focus for SPH Media, declining readership displays the broader shift as digital platforms have develop into the dominant selection amongst Singaporeans.

In response to the Digital Information Report 2025 by the Reuters Institute, print readership in Singapore has decreased exponentially, from 53% in 2017 to 18% in 2025.

Though SPH Media has not disclosed present newspaper print volumes, SPH Media CEO Chan emphasised the necessity for the corporate to proceed conducting its opinions to make sure that operations stay match for goal, given technological advances and altering buyer preferences.

Nevertheless, Chan additionally clarified that not all opinions will end in job redundancies, and that SPH Media’s human assets division will discover all alternate options, together with redeployment and retraining, with layoffs thought-about solely as a final resort.

I’m dedicated to constructing our technique and enterprise with all of you. This consists of putting in new instructions, initiatives and investments to drive SPH ahead. As we accomplish that, we should proceed to spend prudently and search efficiencies the place we will as a part of our common operations.

The organisation should navigate this stress nicely with a view to succeed.

Chan Yeng Package, CEO of SPH Media in an e-mail addressing the layoffs

SPH Media has additionally reiterated its dedication to stay targeted on strengthening its capabilities to serve audiences throughout all platforms, in addition to investing in sustainable and future-ready media operations.

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