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Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower calls for companies to provide flexible work arrangements to access a bigger labor pool.  These flexible work arrangements—for example, part-time work and/or home-based work—are expected to allow employers to realize cost savings and improved productivity.

Currently, 35% of employers are reported to offer some form of flexible work arrangement.  This is higher than the 25% reported in 2007.   The increase can be attributed to the fact that Singapore’s well-developed Infocomm Technology (ICT) infrastructure makes home-based work arrangements possible.

The suggested flexible work arrangements are in line with Singapore’s Retirement and Re-employment Act passed on January 1, 2012.  This retirement hiring law requires companies to allow employees to work past the statutory retirement age of 62.  This change reflects the rising average life expectancy in Singapore (currently 82 years).

It was reported in 2011 that 61.2% of workers between the ages of 55 and 64 still remain in the labor market.  This is much higher than the 57.2% of elderly workers reported in 2009.  Flexible work arrangements will be beneficial for companies facing manpower shortages as they will attract elderly employees back into the workforce.