The Employment (Amendment) Act 2022, which came into operation on 1st January 2023, introduced flexible working arrangement for employees.
The relevant sections are Sections 60P and 60Q of the Employment Act 1955 (“EA 1955“):
“Part XIIC
FLEXIBLE WORKING ARRANGEMENT
Flexible working arrangement
60P. (1) Subject to Part XII or anything contained in the contract of service, an employee may apply to an employer for a flexible working arrangement to vary the hours of work, days of work or place of work in relation to his employment.
(2) Where there is a collective agreement, any application made by the employee under subsection (1) shall be consistent with the terms and conditions in the collective agreement.
Application for flexible working arrangement
60Q. (1) The employee shall make an application for flexible working arrangement under section 60P in writing and in the form and manner as may be determined by the Director General.
(2) Upon the application made under subsection (1), an employer shall, within sixty days from the date such application is received, approve or refuse the application.
(3) The employer shall inform the employee in writing of the employer’s approval or refusal of the application under subsection (1) and in the case of a refusal, the employer shall state the ground of such refusal.”
In summary:
(a) Employees are entitled to apply for flexible working arrangements;
(b) Employers can approve or refuse applications for flexible working arrangements; and
(c) In the event of refusal, employers must inform employees in writing regarding the ground(s) of refusal.
On 12th August 2022, the Human Resources Minister issued the Employment (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 2022 which revised the scope of the EA 1955.
This revision to the scope of the EA 1955, however, only take effect on 1st January 2023.
With effect from 1st January 2023, all employees (regardless of wages) are legally entitled to apply for flexible working arrangements.
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