Singapore is developing a new initiative to provide government grants and incentives to employers who redesign roles into flexible load jobs
. Acting Manpower Minister Jasmin Lau announced the plan on October 14, 2026, aimed at supporting workers who require temporary work-life flexibility, such as those with caregiving responsibilities, without restricting these roles to specific family policies.
Grants and Incentives for Flexible Load Roles
The government is currently identifying specific industries and job roles to pilot the program, according to Acting Manpower Minister Jasmin Lau. Rather than a nationwide rollout, the initiative will begin with targeted testing to determine its effectiveness in various sectors.
The program aims to encourage employers to bundle tasks differently, allowing employees to perform their work at different rhythms
rather than adhering to rigid, full-time schedules. Ms. Lau noted that while the initiative will provide financial support, workers in these roles must accept that compensation will likely depend on specific outputs and outcomes rather than fixed hours.
Flexible Work Model Supports More than Parents
While the proposal was discussed at the Young Singaporeans Conference 2026, which focused on marriage and parenthood, officials emphasized that the flexible work model is intended for a wider audience. This is not just a marriage and parenthood policy or intervention. This is something that supports anyone who needs flexibility in their working life, and it also doesn’t have to be permanent,
Ms. Lau said.
The framework envisions these roles as temporary arrangements. Employees might take on fractional work while caring for young children or elderly parents and transition back to full-time positions once those caregiving duties diminish. According to the latest reports, the government is still finalizing which sectors will be included in the initial testing phase.
Existing Support for Flexible Work Arrangements
The new grants will build upon existing government support for workplace transformation.
- SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant (Job Redesign+): Funds projects that restructure work processes to accommodate flexible arrangements.
- EDGE Grant: Provides funding for digital tools, such as software for remote work or shift scheduling.
- Part-time Re-employment Grant: Specifically for senior workers, this grant pays S$2,500 per resident worker aged 60 and above, with a cap of S$125,000 per company.
Data from the Manpower Ministry indicates that seven in 10 firms offered some form of scheduled flexible work in 2025. While these existing grants are available, the upcoming flexible load job scheme is specifically intended to incentivize the creation of new, task-based roles.
Official Stance on the Right to Disconnect
During the dialogue, Ms. Lau also addressed the concept of a right to disconnect
from work communications outside of office hours. She described it as an extremely useful practice
that the public service could model, but she cautioned against implementing overly rigid regulations on working hours.
The Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup, of which Ms. Lau is a member, is expected to release its full report in early 2027. Meanwhile, the government continues to evaluate recommendations from a separate tripartite workgroup that studied the productivity and employability of senior workers.