Permanent flexible work arrangements called for in Singapore

This call was made by the tripartite partners – the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF).

They said flexible work arrangements have strengthened the resilience of workplaces during the pandemic, adding that globally, employers increasingly embrace such arrangements as part of the future of work.

“Employers are strongly encouraged to continue offering FWAs (flexible work arrangements) to employees, and to promote FWAs as a permanent feature of the workplace,” said the tripartite partners in a statement.

The statement added, “FWAs help employees achieve better work-life harmony and promote a more engaged and productive workforce.

“Employers who offer FWAs will also benefit from talent attraction and retention. In addition, these employers will be able to tap on a larger pool of manpower, such as caregivers and seniors, who might otherwise not be able to remain in or join the workforce.”

Last Friday, the government announced that all workers can now return to their offices from April 26 onwards.

READ: Workers in Singapore can return to the workplace from April 26

Companies can also make their own decisions on workforce vaccination measures, where previous requirements permitted only those who are vaccinated to return to their workplaces.