Acceptance and Rejection Rates for Flexible Work Arrangement Requests, and Top Three Reasons for Rejecting

59 Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked the Minister for Manpower in respect of the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests (TG-FWAR) which took effect on 1 December 2024 (a) whether the Ministry monitors the acceptance and rejection rates for formal and informal request under TG-FWAR; and (b) what are these numbers and the top three reasons given for rejections.

Dr Tan See Leng: The Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests (TG-FWAR), which took effect on 1 December 2024, aim to help employers and employees navigate discussions about flexible work arrangements (FWAs) and arrive at mutually beneficial arrangements.

The TG-FWAR sets out the process for employees to make formal requests, and for employers to consider and respond to these requests on reasonable business grounds. It does not mandate the reporting of FWA requests to the Ministry of Manpower, as doing so would impose significant compliance costs on businesses. Instead, the Government and tripartite partners take an educational and enabling approach in implementing the Tripartite Guidelines, which includes providing employers with templates, guides and training.

Employers who face challenges implementing the TG-FWAR, or employees who feel that their FWA requests are not properly considered, may approach the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices for assistance.