Singapore labor movement makes recommendations for work-life balance

About nine in ten working Singaporeans are happy overall, but more needs to be done for workers to have better work-life balance, according to the results of a survey released on Thursday by the local labor movement. The NTUC U Fmaily, the family development unit of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), also made recommendations for family- friendly workplace practices on Thursday. The online poll by NTUC U Fmaily in November last year showed that most of those who are happy cited marriage and parenthood as contributing significantly to their happiness. It covered 5,255 of the unit's unionized members. Most of the respondents are married, below the age of 55 and full-time workers. Those who are happy in their workplace, motivated in their current jobs and said that they are likely to stay on in their jobs cited good relationships with co-workers and supervisors However, the survey showed that more needs to be done to support working families in the area of the work-life balance. Toh Hwee Tin, director of NTUC U Family, said that the labor movement is working with employers to create a family-friendly workplace environment with flexible work arrangements. The recommendations made by the organization for family- friendly workplace practices include providing basic flexible work arrangements, family-care leave and access to family-supportive facilities, as well as career progression pathways for workers on flexible work arrangements. It said that it hopes at least half of NTUC's unionized companies will provide such options for their staff by next year. Such arrangements "should not be viewed as a workplace privilege...After all, both working fathers and mothers want to put their best at work and home," Toh said.