Almost 1 in 2 firms now offering flexi work arrangements: MoM

15 days of paid annual leave is the norm.

Amid the country’s tight labor market, more firms are now offering flexible work arrangements and initiatives to enhance leave benefits.

According to the Ministry of Manpower’s 2014 Conditions of Employment Survey, the proportion of establishments which provided at least one formal flexible work arrangement improved steadily from 38% in 2011 to 47% in 2014.

Among the various formal FWAs, part-time work remained the most prevalent, offered by 36% of all establishments. This was followed by flexi-time (12%), staggered hours (11%) and formal tele-working (5.8%).

Although not a statutory requirement, many employers were generous in providing compassionate leave (89%) and marriage leave (71%). 

Four in 10 (42%) establishments provided unpaid leave of more than one month, followed by study/examination leave (37%), parental care/ sick leave (17%) and childcare sick leave (16%).

The share of full-time employees who were entitled to at least 15 days of paid annual leave edged up from 2012 by 1.3%-points to 42% in 2014.