I READ with interest Madam Halimah Yacob's letter to the press on women and the legislation of flexi-work.

I applaud the efforts of the National Trades Union Congress and the Workforce Development Agency in promoting the employment of our women by setting up the Flexi-Works! fund.

If a law could be implemented to give women the right to demand flexi-work, it would increase the popularity of such working arrangements.

As mentioned by Madam Halimah, the fund has so far benefited 132 companies, which have committed to placing 4,130 women in flexi-work.

However, this figure is relatively small, considering there are thousands of businesses in Singapore and that women make up over half the workforce.

As there is no law to guide and enforce the implementation of flexi-work, it is likely that a significant number of employers would be reluctant to implement flexi-work.

They might be afraid that a flexi-work system means they may have to incur more operating costs, as they have to hire additional staff.

However, I do not think that legislation such as the British Flexible Working (Procedural Requirements) Regulations 2002 would not be applicable and beneficial to Singapore women.

Singapore women are better- educated, more mature and more open and career-minded than those of earlier generations.

They are capable of taking on any job and doing it as well as a man.

Singapore is also facing a shortage of talent.

Most sensible employers are cognizant of this, and therefore are open to employing more women than they would have many years ago.

They also value their female employees for the contributions these workers make.

For these reasons, I doubt that employers would refuse to hire women should a flexi-work law be put in place, simply to avoid prosecution for non-compliance with the law.

Trade unions and the authorities have promoted the benefits of flexi-work.

They have also urged employers to practise such policies.

There is nothing to lose if the authorities implemented a flexi-work law.

Mr Teo Kueh Liang

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