Singapore has become the first Asian country, and also the first
outside the United States, to win the prestigious Work-Life
Innovative Excellence Award.
The annual award by the US-based Alliance for Work-Life Progress is
to recognise development and advancement of work-life
effectiveness.
It is given this year to the Ministry of Community Development,
Youth and Sports for efforts by its Work-Life Unit to promote
work-life harmony and create family friendly workplaces in the
country.
The judges, who are work-life experts and practitioners, gave the
Ministry top marks for its ability to 'think global, act local' by
adapting from overseas examples and experiences and customising
strategies to suit the local needs.
They were also impressed by its holistic strategy in encouraging
family friendly workplaces by collaborating with employers, unions
and government and adopting a three-pronged approach of organising
public awareness events, facilitating training and providing
resource materials and research.
The organisers said the Ministry, through its Work-Life Unit, was
able to raise awareness for the need for work-life balance among
Singapore employers and workers within a short span of four
years.
The unit was launched four years ago in September 2000.
The conferment of the award was announced by Minister of State for
Community Development, Youth and Sports, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon at
the launch of a seminar for family life ambassadors on Wednesday
morning. - CNA