Over 70% of Firms See Flexible Work Arrangements as Key to Attracting and Retaining Talent

SINGAPORE: Flexible work arrangements (FWAs) were spotlighted at a recent dialogue on Feb. 20 between government, unions, and employers, where Minister of State for Manpower Gan Siow Huang emphasized their growing importance in Singapore’s evolving labor market.

With an aging population, flexible work models can be instrumental in meeting both business and employee needs, Ms. Gan noted as part of a panel discussion on the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests (TG-FWAR) at Furama City Centre. She was joined by Mr. Edwin Ng, honorary secretary of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), and NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Ms. Yeo Wan Ling.

According to a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) survey, over 70 percent of companies agree that FWAs help attract and retain talent. Findings also showed that 40 percent of local workers are inclined to change jobs for better flexibility, and 20 percent have left positions due to a lack of it. These figures align with similar surveys by Randstad in 2022 and 2023.

During the discussion, Ms. Gan clarified that FWAs encompass more than remote work; they include time-based flexibility to support career growth alongside personal and family lives. Yet, she cautioned against a “one-size-fits-all” model, stressing the need to balance employee requests with business continuity.

Ms. Gan, Mr. Ng, and Ms. Yeo lead a workgroup that will release guidelines this year to formalize FWAs. SNEF’s Mr. Ng added, “We aim to avoid legislative mandates to maintain a collaborative process, allowing employees and employers to openly discuss FWA options without adversarial concerns.”

This shift in approach underscores Singapore’s dedication to fostering adaptable work environments that benefit both the workforce and companies in the long run.