THE Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) on Tuesday held a multi-stakeholder workshop to review a study on flexible work arrangements (FWA) in the country.
The study was conducted in support of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan, in collaboration with Investing in Women (IW), an initiative of the Australian government for Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Myanmar to accelerate women’s economic empowerment.
IW works with the private sector to promote gender equality in workplaces, increase impact investment in women-owned businesses, and support policies that reduce structural barriers for women.
The workshop aimed to ensure that the study’s findings reflect actual workplace conditions, and that the proposed policy recommendations address the needs of diverse demographic groups.
Breakout sessions were used to review and validate the study’s analysis of FWA enablers, such as flexible schedules, remote work options, and supportive workplace policies. The discussions focused on making employment more inclusive, particularly for women, the youth, and other underrepresented groups.
Socioeconomic Planning Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said the study offers timely, evidence-based insights to support the TPB Plan’s priority of strengthening institutional arrangements for FWAs.
TPB promotes flexible working arrangements to meet the diverse needs of employees and businesses. The plan considered adopting the Singaporean model, which allows workers to formally request FWA under approved guidelines.
“Flexible work arrangements can provide necessary support to maintain stable employment while managing family obligations, contributing to greater economic inclusion and resilience,” said the TPB.
Part-time work policies should also be strengthened to help those with unpaid care or domestic responsibilities, the plan said, adding that the country can learn from Australia and the Netherlands, where part-time workers receive fair pay, benefits, the right to request reduced hours, and protection from discrimination.
“To ensure success, government agencies must set clear and measurable performance standards for remote and hybrid roles, invest in information and communications technology infrastructure, and provide targeted training to empower public employees in flexible work setups, and strengthen policies on authorizations, data security, and audit processes to ensure transparency and accountability,” the plan said.
The government’s rightsizing program offers a chance to upgrade qualification standards, it added, and by removing redundant positions and merging overlapping roles, the program creates higher-skilled and specialized positions.
“To attract and retain top talent for these roles, the government must adopt enhanced recruitment standards and offer competitive compensation packages,” the plan said.
“A leaner workforce also allows resources to be reallocated toward professional development and training, further ensuring employees are equipped to meet future demands,” it added.
