Disparities in Promotion, Remuneration or Career Progression Experienced by Employees Utilising Flexible Work Arrangements Compared with Those Who Do Not

Dr Charlene Chen asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry has data or research on disparities in promotion, remuneration or career progression experienced by employees who utilise flexible work arrangements compared with employees in comparable roles who do not; and (b) if so, whether such data and research can be shared.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) monitors the career-related experiences of resident employees who use flexible work arrangements (FWAs) through a nationally representative survey. The survey is not designed to compare these employees directly with those in similar roles who do not use FWAs.

In 2025, about 6% of resident employees who used FWA reported being passed over for promotion, receiving fewer job responsibilities, and/or receiving poorer performance evaluations. Within this group, being passed over for promotion was the most common reported experience. The survey did not assess whether using FWAs is associated with differences in remuneration.

MOM will continue to monitor employees' experiences and review relevant policies, where necessary.