What’s buzzing in Singapore this week? From a surprise mid-year bonus for civil servants to the emotional farewell (and revival) of Geylang’s last kampong house, there’s plenty to catch up on.
Gen Z might be eyeing a new AI companion, while travellers affected by Jetstar Asia’s sudden shutdown are getting unexpected insurance support.
Plus, property agents are enjoying record-high customer satisfaction, even as job-switching trends shift across key sectors.
Whether you’re planning your next career move or your next trip, here’s what you need to know right now.
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Civil servants to get 0.4-month mid-year bonus
Singapore’s civil servants will receive a 0.4-month mid-year Annual Variable Component (AVC) bonus, with junior grade officers set to get an extra one-time payment of up to $400. The Public Service Division (PSD) announced the payout in light of Singapore’s 3.9% GDP growth in Q1 2025 and a cautious economic outlook for the rest of the year.
Here’s how the lump sums break down according to grade:
- MX13(I) and MX14: $250
- MX15, MX16, and Operations Support Scheme: $400
The bonus level reflects a moderate stance amid slower employment growth and rising unemployment, as highlighted by the Ministry of Manpower. Labour market conditions are expected to soften further due to global economic headwinds and trade uncertainties.
Last year’s mid-year bonus was slightly higher at 0.45 months, but the government has signalled that year-end payments will depend on how the economy performs in the months ahead.
Geylang’s last kampong house sold en bloc for $6.5 million
After years of fragmented ownership, a century-old kampong house in Geylang has finally changed hands—sold en bloc for $6.5 million. The property at 74 Lorong 19, believed to be the last of its kind in the area, was once home to four families who each owned a quarter share. Its sale was no simple transaction: legacy title complications, overlapping agents, and historical intricacies meant the deal took time, diplomacy and determination.
Buyer Terence Tan plans to preserve the home’s structure and convert it into a co-living space or multi-generational residence. While the property requires significant asbestos removal and structural upgrades, estimated at up to $1 million, Tan is committed to maintaining its original kampong-style appearance.
The 4,670.5 sq ft freehold plot is zoned “Business 1” under URA’s Master Plan but will continue to be used for residential purposes under Tan’s renovation plans.
Fuzozo: Agora launches AI-powered collectible for Gen Z
Move over, Labubu—there’s a new digital companion in town. Agora has unveiled Fuzozo, an AI-powered smart collectible debuting at SuperAI Singapore, aimed squarely at Gen Z’s craving for emotionally intelligent tech.
Fuzozo is more than just a connected toy. Built using Agora’s ConvoAI Device Kit, it can recognise moods, adapt its personality, and even “socialise” with other units via NFC. Over time, it develops a unique emotional profile based on how its user interacts with it—think Tamagotchi meets ChatGPT with a heart.
Key features:
- Voice, gesture, and vision recognition for fluid conversations
- Personalised emotional memory that evolves daily
- Tap-to-connect social mode with other Fuzozo toys
Singapore offers fertile ground for a launch like this. With Gen Z making up nearly 30% of the population and known for high digital engagement, the appetite for emotionally intelligent tech is strong. The country’s rapid AI adoption—rising from 16.7% in 2018 to 44% by 2023—also reflects a mature ecosystem ready to embrace smart consumer innovations like Fuzozo.
Etiqa, Singlife step up to cover Jetstar Asia travellers
Following Jetstar Asia’s unexpected announcement to cease operations, several insurers in Singapore have stepped in to support affected travellers—even though airline shutdowns are typically excluded from standard travel insurance policies.
Singlife is reimbursing affected policyholders for:
- Full cost of Jetstar Asia tickets (if not refunded by the airline)
- Non-refundable pre-booked expenses such as accommodation and activities
This applies to customers who bought their policy before 8 am on 11 Jun 2025. Claims are subject to usual documentation and policy limits.
Etiqa Insurance Singapore is offering similar goodwill coverage with added flexibility:
- Reimbursement of non-refundable trip expenses
- Extended claim window: 90 days (up from 30)
- Fare top-up claims of up to $200 for rebooked flights
- Claims for travel delays between 11 and 31 Jul 2025
Last week, Income Insurance was the first to announce it would honour claims for Jetstar Asia disruptions under similar conditions.
Property agent satisfaction hits all-time high in Singapore
A new survey from the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) found that 92% of consumers were satisfied with services provided by their property agents—up from 77% in 2021 and the highest recorded since polling began in 2012. The results come despite an uptick in DIY transactions and digital tools like HDB’s flat listing platform.
Why do Singaporeans still value agents?
- 45% said agents helped close deals faster
- 44% cited assistance with paperwork and processes
- 42% believed they got better prices or rental rates
Commission awareness was also high: 79% of consumers knew fees were negotiable, and of these, 85% actually bargained. Most were also aware of CEA’s official agreement forms, which 65% signed before work began.
Looking ahead, 74% of respondents said agents should complete at least one deal per year to keep their licence—amid rising calls to maintain professionalism in a rapidly digitising market.
Tech and finance talent lead Singapore’s job hopping trend
Despite overall job-switching intentions dipping slightly, tech and finance workers in Singapore are more eager than ever to explore new opportunities in 2025. According to Randstad’s latest Employer Brand Research, 43% of ICT professionals and 37% of finance professionals plan to move to a new employer—up 9 and 10 percentage points respectively from last year.
However, the reality doesn’t fully match the intent:
- Only 11% of ICT professionals actually changed jobs in the second half of 2024, down from 16% the year before.
- Engineering and finance sectors saw small increases in successful switches, at 2 percentage points each.
Top reasons for jumping ship include work-life balance (41%) and higher pay amid rising living costs (36%).
With more firms asking staff to return to the office, inflexible work arrangements are also pushing people away.
COE premiums climb for cars and vans, dip slightly for bikes
In the latest Certificate of Entitlement (COE) bidding exercise on 18 Jun, premiums went up for all vehicle categories except motorcycles. The strongest gains were seen in the car categories:
- Category A (smaller cars): $98,124 (up from $96,999)
- Category B (larger/more powerful cars): $116,670 (up from $113,000)
- Category C (commercial vehicles): $65,000 (up from $62,000)
- Category E (open category): $116,889 (up from $113,900)
- Only Category D (motorcycles) saw a dip, sliding to $8,600 from $9,000.
This uptick comes despite a larger quota. The Land Transport Authority previously announced a 6% increase in available COEs for the May–July period, bringing the total quota to 18,232—21% higher than the same quarter last year. Still, demand remains high, with 4,207 bids chasing just 3,067 certificates this round.
That’s it for this week! Stay tuned for next week’s What’s Happening This Week to keep up with the latest in finance, business, and beyond.
This article was first drafted with the help of AI and later reviewed and refined by the author.
About the author
Vanessa Nah likes her finance articles the way she likes her sitcoms—light-hearted, entertaining, and leaving people knowing a little more about life. She believes money—like life—should be made simple. Outside of work, you’ll find Vanessa attending dance classes, fingerpicking a guitar, and fulfilling her life mission to make her one-eyed cat the most spoiled kitty in the world.
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