New $500,000 grant to help employers implement family-friendly practices

SINGAPORE - Employers will soon be able to tap on a $500,000 grant to help improve the family-friendly and flexible working arrangements in their companies.

The Labour Movement announced on Saturday its new U Flex Family-Friendly Grant, which is funded by the Government.

The one-year pilot programme targeting 50 companies of various sizes, will be launched in the second half of this year. More details will be released at that time.

The exact criteria to qualify has not been finalised, but employers will likely have to put in place more flexible leave schemes, such as for employees who care for their elderly parents or dependents with special needs. Employers can also look into drawing up career progression pathways for employees on flexible work arrangements.

"The pace of pick-up of family-friendly practices is not as fast as we want to see," said Ms Toh Hwee Tin, director of the National Trades Union Congress U Family arm.

She was speaking on the sidelines of NTUC's annual May Day Family Fiesta, a carnival at Downtown East for union members and their families.

The grant will be managed by NTUC's U Family and the Women's Development Secretariat and will be reviewed after one year.

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