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Written Answer by Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng to PQ on Four-Day Work Week

Employment practices

NOTICE PAPER NO. 549 OF 2021 FOR THE SITTING ON 26 JULY 2021
QUESTION NO. 1395 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Chua Keng Wee Louis
To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Government has undertaken a study on shorter work weeks; and (b) whether the Government can consider a limited trial of a four-day work week in Singapore.

Answer

1. Any employer wishing to pilot a four-day work week with their staff can do so, as there is no legal impediment to implementing such a scheme.

2. We have noted reports of such small-scale pilots in some countries, and their initial results. Given the current economic situation in Singapore, the Ministry is prioritising core issues such as uplifting low-wage workers, job creation, developing the Singaporean Core and enhancing the effectiveness of fair employment rules. We also continue to promote work-life harmony by supporting initiatives such as flexible work arrangements, and the Alliance for Action on Work Life Harmony that was launched earlier this year.

3. Having said that, we welcome research or studies by others that can contribute to the development of policies that are pro-worker and pro-business.