Malaysian HR Minister: Employees granted flexi-work rights since Sep 2022

While employees have the right to request FWAs under Section 60P, it’s not an absolute entitlement.

The final decision rests on the terms outlined in the employee’s contract of employment.

The law does not mandate companies to offer FWAs as a fundamental entitlement, but it permits employees to request them if their contracts do not explicitly prohibit such arrangements and if they have a legitimate need for flexible working hours.

Singapore employers may consider overseas hiring as flexible work arrangements become normative, CNA reports

On Monday (15 April), Singapore launched the new Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) Requests. Effective December of this year, all employers are required to establish a formal process for employees to request flexible work arrangements.

According to the guidelines, employers are expected to respond to FWA requests within two months of receiving them.

While employers maintain the right to decline such requests, their decisions must be justified by reasonable business grounds, such as cost or productivity concerns. They should include the reason for rejection in the written decision.

Furthermore, the guidelines outline what constitutes unreasonable grounds for rejecting requests.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) of Singapore stated that in instances where employers are non-compliant or deliberately refuse to adhere to the guidelines, the ministry may issue warnings and mandate attendance at corrective workshops.

According to a report by Channel News Asia (CNA), some employers are apprehensive about the potential impact of FWAs on local hiring, with concerns prompting consideration of overseas labour markets where costs are lower.

For instance, worries persist about the operational complexities and reduced employee responsiveness associated with incorporating flexi-time.

Additionally, some employers view flexible work arrangements as an opportunity to bolster their remote workforce, diminishing the emphasis on local hiring.

A 2022 study by the Singapore Business Review found that the average worker in Singapore logs 45-hour weeks, contributing to significant unhappiness and burnout among employees.

Another study by global professional services firm Aon and Telus Health in 2022 reported that 52% of workers in Singapore felt more stress than in previous years, with 64% concerned about the impact of mental health issues on their careers.