SINGAPORE - Some 500 jobs with flexible-work arrangements were on offer at a job fair organised by the labour movement on Thursday.

Staggered working hours, part-time work or flexible locations are an option at 16 companies such as Wing Tai Retail Management, Fuji Xerox Singapore and Certis Cisco Security, who were at the fair organised by the National Trades Union Congress Women's Development Secretariat (WDS).

"Companies are realising that...they have to look at various ways to attract and retain their employees," said WDS director Sylvia Choo, adding that adopting a more flexible mindset, changing the way the work is structured and having more job redesign will allow more workers such as housewives and retirees to ease back into the workforce.

About 200 out of 500 job seekers who attended the event at the Devan Nair Institute of Employment and Employability were shortlisted or offered positions by the end of the day. The labour movement also said it will build a group of 20 U Flex Ambassadors by the first quarter of next year from unions and communities to promote flexi-work arrangements to companies and employees.