The Labour Movement has been actively advocating Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs) for working families actively with NTUC U Family and NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat championing various initiatives to advance this cause.
Now, their efforts are seeing a bigger advocacy for implementing FWAs. Several companies have embraced FWAs for both working parents.
“We understand that there could be fear and apprehension from employees and employers on requesting for and implementing FWAs. Yet the lack of FWAs has consistently ranked as the top factor in many surveys why many of our women, including the PMEs (Professionals, Managers and Employees), leave the workforce or have reservations about coming back,” said NTUC WDS Director, Sylvia Choo.
NTUC WDS supports FWAs as it complements their call to bring more women back to work.
“FWA is not only for women. For men who are on FWA, it also offers more leeway to manage the family with their spouses and help more women to remain or re-join the workforce.”
“Caregiving is a trend that is unavoidable. It has and will continue to affect the stability of the family and the productivity of the workforce. These consequences are significant yet not visible. Many employers are not aware of their employees’ caregiving responsibilities, and have not engaged their employees sufficiently on the matter,” added NTUC U Family Director, Toh Hwee Tin, urging more companies to work out FWAs that are suited to individual and business needs.
Several initiative have been put in place to encourage more companies to embrace FWAs. In July, the ‘Best Companies for Mums’ Awards were given out to companies and individuals who make FWAs possible.
NTUC WDS also holds regular FWAs workshops known as ‘See Why, Know How, Try Know’ to share with employers how they can embark on FWAs successfully and sustainably, starting with pilot programmes.
The U Flex Family Friendly Grant encourages companies to step up its efforts in family care leave and employee support scheme.
Original article written by Naseema Banu Maideen, and can be found in NTUC This Week (27 July 2014)
