THOSE who work fewer than 35 hours a week are going to be considered part-time workers, under changes to be made to the Employment Act.

This suggestion, made during a three-week public consultation on proposed amendments to the Act, has been accepted by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

It said, 'In consultation with the tripartite partners, MOM agrees that if part-time employees are defined as those who work 35 hours or less, full-time employees on a five-day, seven-hour working arrangement may be re-classified as part-time employees and have their employment benefits pro-rated accordingly.'

'In view of this, the Ministry would accept this proposal.'

It made the announcement on its website and that of the feedback unit Reach.

Initially, MOM had proposed part-timers be defined as those who work 35 hours or less, as opposed to the Act's existing definition of fewer than 30 hours.

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.