Legal Updates for April 2024 New Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests: Implementation, Implications, and Practical Tips
Following the widespread adoption of telecommuting and staggered working hours amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the job market in Singapore has seen an increasing demand for flexible work arrangements ("FWAs"). This demand is expected to grow not just in light of Singapore's rapidly ageing population, as more employees will need to balance work with caregiving responsibilities in order to remain in the workforce — but also as employees and employers both re-examine the fundamental premise and very nature of work itself.
In a much-needed step to clarify the new normal, on 16 April 2024, the Ministry of Manpower ("MOM") launched the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) Requests ("FWA Guidelines"). The FWA Guidelines establish (i) how formal FWA requests should be made; (ii) how employers should consider such requests in a proper manner; and (iii) the requirement to communicate decisions on such requests in a transparent and timely manner.
The FWA Guidelines will come into effect on 1 December 2024 and will apply to all employers. In this Update, we discuss the implementation of the FWA Guidelines, the implications for employers, and practical tips for employers to consider ahead of time.
Singapore's Cybersecurity Regime Set to Undergo Update - Cybersecurity (Amendment) Act Introduced in Parliament
In Singapore, the Cybersecurity Act regulates cybersecurity threats and incidents, critical information infrastructure ("CII"), and cybersecurity service providers. To keep pace with emerging threat factors and operational practicalities, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore ("CSA") has introduced the Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill ("Bill"). The main amendments in the Bill include the following:
- Updating existing provisions relating to the cybersecurity of CII;
- Expanding CSA's oversight to cover the cybersecurity of Systems of Temporary Cybersecurity Concern; and
- Creating two new classes of regulated entities – Entities of Special Cybersecurity Interest and Foundational Digital Infrastructure.
This Update highlights some of the key features of the Bill and its proposed amendments, as well as CSA's insights on the operation of the Bill's provisions and its intentions for future engagement with stakeholders.
New Regulated Activities under Payment Services Act and New User Protection Requirements for Digital Payment Token Service Providers from 4 April 2024
On 4 April 2024, the Payment Services (Amendment) Act 2021 came into effect, revising the Payment Services Act 2019 in the following main areas:
- Broadening the definition of "digital payment token" ("DPT") services;
- Widening the definition of "cross-border money transfer" services; and
- Empowering the Monetary Authority of Singapore ("MAS") to impose additional measures to regulate DPT service providers to enhance consumer protection and maintain financial stability.
To operationalise these changes, amendments to the Payment Services Regulations 2019 and a set of new MAS Guidelines have been published, which will take effect in stages from 4 April 2024.
This Update provides a brief summary of these newly regulated activities and the new requirements imposed on DPT service providers.
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