Career moves · SINGAPORE
Asked for last-drawn salary after retrenchment? A Singapore jobseeker guide
A practical guide for retrenched Singapore jobseekers deciding what to say when a recruiter asks about past salary before explaining a role. MOM says jobseekers are not obliged to disclose past salary; its answer does not prohibit employers from asking or guarantee that they will provide a salary range.
By Boardzip · Published · Updated
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Start with these checks
- The event is a Singapore career fair, recruiter conversation, job-search workshop or salary-negotiation session relevant to jobseekers after retrenchment.
- The listing identifies whether participants can speak with hiring employers, attend a general presentation or practise a negotiation exercise.
- The organizer, date, location or online format, registration conditions and admission terms are visible.
The problem
At a career fair or recruitment conversation, a jobseeker is asked for last-drawn salary before the role's duties, level or compensation structure are clear. They need to decide whether to disclose, defer or redirect, without treating past pay as a required answer or inventing a legal ban on the question.
The direct answer
If a recruiter asks for your last-drawn salary, you are not obliged to disclose it, according to MOM's 2025 written answer. MOM does not plan to prohibit employers from asking. Its answer says candidates may negotiate compensation based on their skills, experience and the demands of the role, and cautions that heavy reliance on past pay may anchor an offer to a level that does not reflect current skills. It does not require an employer to disclose a range first, predict how a particular employer will react, or promise an offer. You can decide whether to share, defer or redirect the discussion; keep any answer truthful.
Identify which salary question you were asked
Last-drawn salary is information about past compensation. Expected salary is a figure you may choose to discuss for the role ahead. A salary range is information about the employer's budget or offer structure. These questions are related but not interchangeable. Before replying, confirm which one the recruiter means and, if the role is still unclear, ask about its responsibilities, level and package structure. MOM's answer discusses requests for past salary; it does not say an employer must provide a range or specify a required order for those questions.
Choose whether to disclose, defer or redirect
MOM says jobseekers are not obliged to disclose past salaries. If you prefer not to share, you can say so briefly and move the conversation to the role. If you choose to share, give accurate context and do not present variable pay, a one-off payment or a different compensation period as a comparable fixed salary. You can also ask the recruiter to clarify the role's range, but the source does not guarantee that the recruiter will provide it. The choice is yours; this guide does not predict the hiring effect of any particular response.
Use the role as the basis for expectations
MOM says candidates may negotiate using skills, experience and the demands of the role. Prepare one or two relevant examples that show the experience you would bring, then consider the actual duties, level and compensation structure before deciding what expectation to share. Do not infer that a prior salary sets your value in a different role, or that a career-fair conversation establishes a final offer. If the role details are not yet available, you may ask for them before deciding whether to state a target. Any figure you choose should be one you can explain and would genuinely consider.
Optional wording for the conversation
If you want to defer the past-pay question, you could say: “I'd prefer to understand this role's responsibilities and compensation structure first. Could you share the range or package details available? I can then discuss expectations based on the role and my relevant experience.” This is an optional conversational example, not a prescribed script, legal requirement or guarantee that the recruiter will disclose a range. If you prefer a direct decline, keep it concise: “I'd rather not share my previous salary, but I'm happy to discuss expectations for this position.” Only use wording that reflects your actual preference.
Worked example
Fictional example: Lina was retrenched from an operations role and is speaking with a recruiter about a different position at a career fair. Before Lina knows the new duties or package, the recruiter asks for her last-drawn salary. Lina chooses not to give a past figure and asks what the role involves and what compensation information is available. The recruiter may or may not share a range. Lina then decides whether to state an expectation based on the responsibilities, her relevant experience and the package details she actually receives. The example illustrates a choice, not a recommended salary, guaranteed response or predicted hiring outcome.
Keep the boundary clear
This guide summarizes one MOM written answer about requests for last-drawn salary. It does not claim employers are prohibited from asking, that a range must be disclosed, or that declining to answer ensures a particular result. It does not replace individualized legal advice or establish rules for every separate form, contract or employment situation. If an employer gives you a formal compensation proposal, assess the actual written terms and ask the responsible contact about anything unclear. Do not falsify past pay or share confidential documents from a former employer to support a conversation.
Find a relevant conversation or workshop
Use Boardzip's event search to look for a Singapore career fair, recruiter session or salary-negotiation workshop. Check the listing's actual format, participating organizers or employers, date, registration requirements and admission terms. A general career talk may not include individual salary discussion, and an event listing does not establish an employer's pay policy or guarantee a hiring result. If no suitable event is listed, use MOM's written answer to prepare a truthful response and raise role-specific questions through the employer's actual recruitment channel; do not wait for an event to make a decision about disclosing past salary.
Questions and answers
Do I have to tell an employer my last-drawn salary?
MOM's written answer says jobseekers are not obliged to disclose past salaries. It does not prohibit employers from asking or predict how an individual employer will respond if you choose not to share.
Does the MOM answer mean employers are banned from asking?
No. MOM states it does not plan to prohibit employers from requesting last-drawn salary. Keep that separate from its statement that jobseekers are not obliged to disclose it.
Must the recruiter give me a salary range before I answer?
The cited MOM answer does not establish that an employer must provide a range first. You may ask for the role's available compensation details, but do not assume the recruiter is required to share them.
Can I base my expectations on the role instead of past pay?
MOM says candidates may negotiate based on their skills, experience and the demands of the role. Consider those factors and the actual package; the source does not set a particular figure for you.
Will declining to share past salary reduce my chance of an offer?
The MOM answer does not predict how a particular employer will assess any individual response. It says jobseekers are not obliged to disclose past salaries; it does not promise an offer or a particular hiring outcome.
What if the recruiter asks for my expected salary rather than past salary?
Clarify the question. Expected salary concerns what you seek for the role, while last-drawn salary concerns past pay. MOM says candidates may negotiate based on skills, experience and role demands, but it does not prescribe a required expectation or a script.
Should I attend an event just to find out what to say?
Only if the actual format addresses your question and fits your needs. Check the event details first; if no suitable session is listed, use the MOM answer and prepare your own truthful response without waiting for an event.
Sources and further reading
These references provide the guide’s source context and further reading. They do not confirm a current event, admission or an available place; check each listing’s organiser terms for those conditions.
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