Debated in Parliament on 1 Mar 2022.
Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry has conducted surveys to assess the proficiency of local employers at managing remote work by using technology such as assessment tools and collaboration technology; (b) whether employers have adequate support to help them improve in managing remote and hybrid work teams; and (c) whether the Ministry is equipped to mediate disagreements over employee assessment due to reduced in-person work and resulting change in assessment criteria.
MOM and our Tripartite Partners take a practical approach towards supporting companies that are implementing remote work and other forms of flexible work arrangements. Specifically on remote work, employers are best placed to assess what types of work in the company are suitable for this form of flexible work arrangement, how best to implement it, retain their employees and motivate them, while ensuring the needs of the business are met.
Mr Speaker, the Government should not overreach or be overly prescriptive. Otherwise, we stifle the spirit of free enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Some employers may need financial support to implement the digital technologies to support remote work. The Government supports them through the Productivity Solutions Grant. The HR profession has also come together to share experiences and best practices. For example, the Institute for Human Resource Professionals developed a Playbook on Hybrid Workplaces. We will continue to consult closely with our Tripartite Partners to identify resources and tools to support companies in implementing remote work as well as other forms of flexible work arrangements.
Employees who experience unfair treatment, including in performance assessment while on remote-work arrangements, can reach out to the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) for advice and assistance. The principles underlying the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices are clear. Remote work may be an emerging workplace practice, but the principle of fair and objective assessment remains unchanged.
Mr Yip.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I ask this Parliamentary Question (PQ) because remote and hybrid work arrangements are going to be here to stay and perhaps may even be more prevalent in the post-COVID-19 world. I agree that the Government should not overreach. I just have a short supplementary question, which is that will the Ministry consider leading the way in terms of coming up with certain financial assistance or grants to help facilitate companies to take up remote and hybrid work arrangements, including the use of technology?
The Government recognises that some companies may need help in implementing remote work and other forms flexible work arrangements. On the subject of supporting companies that might need some funding support to acquire technologies to implement remote work, we do have the Productivity Solutions Grants for companies to consider.
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