Singapore has announced new guidelines that allow workers to request four-day work weeks, more work-from-home days, and staggered work hours, starting on December 1.
The announcement came from the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices, which includes the Ministry of Manpower, the National Trades Union Congress, and the Singapore National Employers Federation, revealed Tuesday, April 16.
Under the guideline, employees will also have the right to request other flexible arrangements, such as flexible work locations, by the end of this year. While these guidelines are not laws, they require all companies in Singapore to create a process for employees to request flexible working arrangements.
Employers can only turn down these requests if they would seriously harm productivity, cause a big increase in costs, or are impossible considering the job’s nature. Companies cannot reject a request based solely on the grounds that it contradicts the firm’s traditions or because management does not believe in flexible working styles.
Singapore’s move follows countries like Ireland and Britain, where companies must consider flexible work requests.
