diff --git a/epictrack-api/migrations/versions/65cb91595d6a_make_work_ministry_nullable.py b/epictrack-api/migrations/versions/65cb91595d6a_make_work_ministry_nullable.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4f96a660b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/epictrack-api/migrations/versions/65cb91595d6a_make_work_ministry_nullable.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+"""make work ministry nullable
+
+Revision ID: 65cb91595d6a
+Revises: 925ba8974e38
+Create Date: 2023-12-18 14:57:36.523607
+
+"""
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = '65cb91595d6a'
+down_revision = '925ba8974e38'
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    op.alter_column('works', 'ministry_id', existing_type=sa.INTEGER(), nullable=True)
+    op.alter_column('works_history', 'ministry_id', existing_type=sa.INTEGER(), nullable=True)
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    pass
diff --git a/epictrack-api/src/api/models/work.py b/epictrack-api/src/api/models/work.py
index 10d5a22bb..be4ce722e 100644
--- a/epictrack-api/src/api/models/work.py
+++ b/epictrack-api/src/api/models/work.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class Work(BaseModelVersioned):
     work_decision_date = Column(DateTime(timezone=True))
 
     project_id = Column(ForeignKey('projects.id'), nullable=False)
-    ministry_id = Column(ForeignKey('ministries.id'), nullable=False)
+    ministry_id = Column(ForeignKey('ministries.id'), nullable=True)
     ea_act_id = Column(ForeignKey('ea_acts.id'), nullable=False)
     eao_team_id = Column(ForeignKey('eao_teams.id'), nullable=False)
     federal_involvement_id = Column(ForeignKey('federal_involvements.id'), nullable=False)
diff --git a/epictrack-api/src/api/schemas/request/work_request.py b/epictrack-api/src/api/schemas/request/work_request.py
index 716a63005..c7bacec7d 100644
--- a/epictrack-api/src/api/schemas/request/work_request.py
+++ b/epictrack-api/src/api/schemas/request/work_request.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class WorkBodyParameterSchema(RequestBodyParameterSchema):
     ministry_id = fields.Int(
         metadata={"description": "Ministry id of the work"},
         validate=validate.Range(min=1),
-        required=True,
+        required=False,
     )
     federal_involvement_id = fields.Int(
         metadata={"description": "Federal involvement id of the work"},
diff --git a/epictrack-web/src/components/work/WorkForm.tsx b/epictrack-web/src/components/work/WorkForm.tsx
index 74d4b62bc..0c3704ed3 100644
--- a/epictrack-web/src/components/work/WorkForm.tsx
+++ b/epictrack-web/src/components/work/WorkForm.tsx
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ const schema = yup.object<Work>().shape({
   work_type_id: yup.number().required("Work type is required"),
   start_date: yup.date().required("Start date is required"),
   project_id: yup.number().required("Project is required"),
-  ministry_id: yup.number().required("Responsible ministry is required"),
   federal_involvement_id: yup
     .number()
     .required("Federal Involvement is required"),
@@ -256,7 +255,7 @@ export default function WorkForm({ ...props }) {
             ></ControlledSelectV2>
           </Grid>
           <Grid item xs={6}>
-            <ETFormLabel required>Responsible Ministry</ETFormLabel>
+            <ETFormLabel>Responsible Ministry</ETFormLabel>
             <ControlledSelectV2
               placeholder="Select"
               helperText={errors?.ministry_id?.message?.toString()}
diff --git a/epictrack-web/src/components/work/WorkList.tsx b/epictrack-web/src/components/work/WorkList.tsx
index f355d16be..0f4d89428 100644
--- a/epictrack-web/src/components/work/WorkList.tsx
+++ b/epictrack-web/src/components/work/WorkList.tsx
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ const WorkList = () => {
       const codes = works
         // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/ban-ts-comment
         // @ts-ignore
-        .map((w) => w[key][accessor])
+        .map((w) => (w[key] ? w[key][accessor] : null))
         .filter(
           (ele, index, arr) => arr.findIndex((t) => t === ele) === index && ele
         );