Following the widespread adoption of telecommuting and staggered working hours amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the job market in Singapore has seen an increasing demand for flexible work arrangements (“FWAs“). This demand is expected to grow not just in light of Singapore’s rapidly ageing population, as more employees will need to balance work with caregiving responsibilities in order to remain in the workforce — but also as employees and employers both re-examine the fundamental premise and very nature of work itself.
In a much-needed step to clarify the new normal, on 16 April 2024, the Ministry of Manpower (“MOM“) launched the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests (“FWA Guidelines“). The FWA Guidelines establish (i) how formal FWA requests should be made; (ii) how employers should consider such requests in a proper manner; and (iii) the requirement to communicate decisions on such requests in a transparent and timely manner.
The FWA Guidelines will come into effect on 1 December 2024 and will apply to all employers. In this Update, we discuss the implementation of the FWA Guidelines, the implications for employers, and practical tips for employers to consider ahead of time.
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