Alternative Work Venue Arrangements to Support Public Officers Who Do Not Have Suitable Home Environments to Work from Home

1 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Prime Minister (a) what alternative work venue arrangements exist to support public officers who do not have suitable venues at home for work-from-home (WFH); and (b) in the past one year, what proportion of otherwise WFH-eligible staff have taken up these alternatives.

Mr Chan Chun Sing (for the Prime Minister): Officers who find their home environments unsuitable for work may seek approval to return to the workplace, subject to prevailing safe management measures such as staggered working hours and safe distancing. We do not track the proportion of staff who have taken up alternative work venue arrangements.

In addition, as a hybrid working arrangement is likely to continue, the Public Service is planning to launch a network of geographically distributed shared co-working spaces located in existing public agency-owned spaces that will be open to all Public Officers. These spaces will be close to officers’ homes, and provide alternative venues for officers to work and collaborate as One Public Service. Officers who find their home environments unsuitable for work may utilise these spaces when they are ready.