Ready to start working from home?

Home-based positions could soon balloon with a new government call to adopt more flexible working set-ups.

The rise of broadband internet and a quarter million Singaporean non-working residents are starting to entice talent-starved firms to set up their own home-based working programs, said the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) in a release.

Pilot testing firms are now being invited "to collaborate and conduct pilots in the areas of home-based work and setting up of Smart Work Centres."

"There are several benefits to home-based work and/or working at Smart Work Centres. At the national level, some 7 in 10 of the more than 258,000 economically inactive residents in the prime working age of 25 to 54 cited family commitments as the main reason for not working, and such flexible working arrangements could increase employment opportunities for those seeking to join the workforce," said IDA.

"For employers, flexible work arrangements can contribute to better staff attraction and retention as well as improved productivity and enhanced access to a larger manpower pool that includes economically inactive persons. To employees, the reduction in commuting time to and from the office can contribute towards better work-life harmony, and improve their level of engagement and focus on work and productivity," it said.

"The enhancement in infocomm infrastructure and ensuing services, and the widespread use of computers and broadband are now making the possibility of flexible work arrangements more viable than before. The nationwide deployment of Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN) also makes implementing home-based work and Smart Work Centres more attractive as the network offers pervasive, affordable broadband connection that supports major office functions such as high quality video-conferencing and cloud computing," it added.

Industry players and employers that are interested to collaborate for the pilot testing are invited to attend a briefing session held on 10 April 2012, said IDA. Or visit http//www.NextGenNBN.gov.sg or drop an email to services@ida.gov.sg.