Singapore Releases Guidelines On Services Sector's Job Flexibility

24 Jun 2013

The Ministry of Manpower has released a Tripartite Guidelines on the Job Flexibility Scheme for services sector.

As announced by Acting Minister for Manpower, Tan Chuan-Jin, on March 14, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will implement the scheme on July 1, 2013.

This will allow Work Permit Holders in the Services sector to be flexibly deployed by multi-tasking across occupations within the same business in addition to the occupation specified in the Work Permit.

This will help businesses enhance productivity amidst the tightened foreign manpower rules.

Since March 2013, MOM, together with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), have been in close consultations to develop Tripartite Guidelines to ensure employers implement the Job Flexibility Scheme responsibly.

The Guidelines set out principles on how employers may exercise job flexibility, and remind employers of their legal and contractual obligations.

Divisional Director of Manpower Planning & Policy at the Manpower Ministry, Adrian Chua, called on employers to use the scheme and ensure they remain fair to workers.

Chua said, "Employers should use the scheme sensibly and reasonably, making sure that employees are adequately trained before performing new tasks. The value of the resulting productivity improvements and savings should be shared with employees, especially with those who perform additional tasks."

"Overall, the Services sector had a job vacancy rate of 3.1 per cent as compared to 1.9 per cent in manufacturing as at March 2013.

SNEF's Executive Director Koh Juan Kiat said the Tripartite Guidelines also reiterate the employment and employment-related laws that employers are expected to comply with.

Before exercising job flexibility, employers should inform their employees of their redefined job scopes, and seek their employees' consent before assigning them to new tasks.

Source: http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v7/wn/newsworld.php?id=958251