"Taking the First Step Toward a 4-Day Workweek"... This Country Accelerates as the First in Asia to Adopt It

Singapore Expands Flexible Work Arrangements
Workers Apply to Adjust Working Hours

Singapore has expanded flexible working arrangements, paving the way to become the first Asian country to move towards a '4-day workweek.'

Singapore stock photo

On the 21st, local media including The Straits Times reported that the Singapore Ministry of Manpower has established new guidelines requiring all employers to fairly consider employees' requests for flexible working arrangements. These guidelines, which will take effect on December 1, were finalized after eight months of tripartite consultations involving the government, employers' associations, and the National Trades Union Congress.

Accordingly, workers can request flexible or focused work arrangements such as telecommuting, remote work, or adjusted commuting hours. Employers must respond within two months of receiving such requests. If they refuse, they must provide valid reasons related to costs or feasibility and are encouraged to seek alternative solutions with the employee. If employers intentionally fail to comply with the guidelines, the government may issue warnings and require relevant training. Although not legally binding, the guidelines make it possible to adjust working hours so that employees work only four days a week, marking the first step towards a 4-day workweek.

The new guidelines aim to introduce flexible working arrangements across all companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises. The government cited reasons for implementing the guidelines such as the rigidity of Singapore’s labor market, an aging workforce, and an increasing population needing caregiving roles. The pace of low birth rates and aging in Singapore is as rapid as in Korea. By 2030, it is projected that people aged 65 and over will account for more than a quarter of Singapore’s population.

Earlier in 2022, a survey showed that 7 out of 10 Singaporean workers wanted a 4-day workweek. At that time, Bloomberg cited a public opinion poll by The Straits Times, reporting that about 70% of surveyed workers expressed a preference for a 4-day workweek.

Meanwhile, some companies in the United States and Japan have also adopted the 4-day workweek. In February, US-based CNBC cited a report from the UK think tank Autonomy, stating that among 61 UK companies participating in the 2022 '4-day workweek experiment,' 54 companies (89%) maintained the policy, and 31 companies (51%) permanently switched to a 4-day workweek. Among the surveyed companies, 82% believed the 4-day workweek positively impacted employee welfare, and 50% found it helped reduce employee turnover.

The Japanese government is also positive about adopting the 4-day workweek. Microsoft Japan announced that its 2019 pilot of the 4-day workweek resulted in a 40% increase in productivity, a case highly regarded by the Japanese government.