New flexiwork guidelines meant to assist, not prescribe: SNEF

Whilst employers are mandated to consider the request, they still have the final say on whether to accept or reject it.

The Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) clarified that the new tripartite guidelines on flexible work arrangement (FWS) requests do not prescribe the outcome but are meant to assist employers in the process of considering formal requests for flexible work arrangements.

In a statement, SNEF emphasised that the guidelines do not “prescribe the types of FWAs that employers must implement, but rather, encourage employers to consider the various forms of flexible work arrangements that can work for them, and at the same time, meet the needs of their employees.”

Authorities are requiring all employers to establish a formal process for workers to request flexible work arrangements starting 1 December 2024. This is amid a tight labour market, with 174 job vacancies for every 100 job seekers in December 2023 due to an ageing population and slowing workforce growth, according to SNEF. 

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The new rules aims to enhance workforce potential by retaining and attracting individuals to come back to the workforce, including caregivers, young parents, and the elderly, SNEF said.

The Ministry of Manpower’s 2023 Labour Force Survey revealed that close to a quarter of the 1.12 million residents outside the labour force cited housework and caregiving as reasons for not working. Whilst this is expected to increase amid an ageing population, providing flexibility will allow these individuals to manage both their work and personal responsibilities, SNEF said. 

Extending retirement and re-employment ages will also allow those at the retirement age to continue working even on a reduced load or part-time basis, it added. 

SNEF also emphasised that FWA must work for both employers and employees for it to be sustainable. 

“FWA requests that result in higher costs without the corresponding increase in productivity or improvement in business outcome will not be sustainable,” it added.

The organisation noted that not all FWA requests can be approved due to practical reasons and constraints. Companies with existing effective flexible work setups were encouraged to continue implementing such.

“SNEF will ramp up our efforts in guiding and sharing with employers through a series of training workshops and clinics on FWAs. Employers, especially those that currently do not practise FWAs, will be provided with tools, templates, resources, and playbook,” it said. 

An in-person briefing will be held on 2 May to address employers’ questions.