Tripartite Standard on Flexible Work Arrangements launched

1. Second Minister for Manpower Mrs Josephine Teo launched the Tripartite Standard on Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs) today during a tripartite learning journey to Feinmetall Singapore.
2. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) jointly developed this Tripartite Standard in recognition of the important contribution that FWAs make to a supportive and conducive work environment. Implementing FWAs benefit both employees and employers. Employees are better able to meet their work-life needs. Employers are better able to attract and retain talent, and improve the productivity of their workforce.
3. Today, while many companies offer FWAs, jobseekers and employees may not be aware that they do, or the types of FWAs available, or how to request for them. Employees who do apply for FWAs may not be entertained by their supervisors or may not have their applications evaluated objectively. If their requests are turned down, there is often no further avenue to discuss other alternative arrangements with their supervisors. Employees who are granted the use of FWAs may also be worried whether they will be appraised fairly.
4. This Tripartite Standard on FWAs will ensure that employees are better able to benefit from FWAs, while addressing their concerns. Progressive employers who publicly adopt this Standard will inform their employees of the types of FWAs available, the process to request for them and their expectations on the responsible use of FWAs. They will communicate the outcomes of FWA applications in a timely manner. If they are unable to grant a request for FWA, supervisors will engage their employees on the reasons and where possible, discuss suitable alternatives. They will also train their supervisors to objectively evaluate employees’ applications for FWAs and appraise them fairly. To ensure that these measures are implemented effectively, these employers will appoint a member of the senior management to champion FWAs.
5. Together with the tripartite partners, the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) is working with employers to help them adopt this Tripartite Standard. Those who have adopted the Standard will be listed on TAFEP’s website and can use a logomark for their recruitment and marketing efforts. Jobseekers and employees can then identify such employers and the specific progressive employment practices implemented by these employers.
6. Today, more than 250 companies¹ have signed up to the Tripartite Standard on FWAs as early adopters. More than 210,000 of their employees will be able to benefit from these employers’ progressive implementation of FWAs. Traditionally, while smaller companies may find it harder to implement FWAs, at least one in five of these early adopters of this Tripartite Standard are local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
7. To help companies meet the specifications, TAFEP is conducting workshops on FWAs. Funding is also available for companies to tap on in the form of the WorkPro Work-Life Grant.
8. Interested employers may visit tafep.sg to adopt the Tripartite Standard(s) or contact TAFEP at ts@tafep.sg to obtain more information on the workshop and the Work-Life Grant.