Singapore mandates flexible work requests; Employers to implement new guidelines

Employers in Singapore are now required to develop an application process to allow employees to make formal requests for flexible work arrangements.

From December 1, employees can request a transition to a four-day work week, more remote working days and flexible work hours. The Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices initiative will also include the ability to request flexible work locations.

Employers should communicate their decision within two months of the employee’s request. In case of refusal, this decision must be supported by reasonable grounds, such as decreased productivity or increased costs. At the same time, employers will not be able to reject a request because, for example, it contradicts the company’s traditions, since official guidelines indicate this as an unreasonable refusal.

The guidelines were released on Monday, April 15, based on recommendations from a tripartite working group set up eight months ago to study the issue of flexible working.

Due to a tight labor market and Singapore’s aging population, the government is introducing new policies aimed at expanding opportunities for working people to combine work and care for the elderly.

Minister of State for Manpower Gan Siow Huang, stressed that flexible working would allow more people, especially women and the elderly, to remain in the workforce. By 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be over 65, and the female labor force participation rate, despite rising last year, still leaves 260,000 people out of the labor force.

The guidelines aim to make flexible working arrangements more accessible and easier for employers to implement. Gan stressed the approach should be “progressive”, with an emphasis on consulting and educating companies rather than crackdowns.

Similar initiatives are already being implemented in many countries. In Ireland and the UK, companies are required to consider requests for flexible working, including shorter working weeks. In Germany, trade unions are pushing employers to introduce a four-day working week while maintaining wages.

These measures reflect a growing understanding that the traditional five-day workweek is not always optimal. Flexible schedules can increase employee satisfaction and improve work-life balance, which in turn can lead to increased productivity.

By introducing these changes, Singapore is demonstrating its commitment to progressive management practices aimed at employee well-being and driving economic growth.