Singapore debates parental leave enhancements to balance family needs and workplace demands.
New Shared Parental Leave Policy
Singapore’s Parliament has approved 10 weeks of shared parental leave, addressing the need for more equitable childcare responsibilities between parents. MPs have raised diverse issues, from supporting parents to mitigating workplace impacts.
Key Suggestions and Concerns
Equalising Leave for Gender Parity
Mr. Ng highlighted a 2019 Institute of Policy Studies paper noting that unequal leave reinforces gender stereotypes, leaving fathers less involved in childcare. He called for equal maternity and paternity leave to support mothers’ recovery and encourage shared childcare duties.
Enhanced Childcare Leave
Dr. Wan Rizal suggested basing childcare leave days on the number of children, acknowledging the frequent illnesses young children face.
Universal Maternity Insurance
Mr. Melvin Yong proposed a universal maternity insurance scheme, especially for mothers with pre-existing conditions. Ms. Sun Xueling responded by noting existing MediShield Life coverage for serious complications and government subsidies covering up to 80% of maternity expenses.
Workplace Challenges
Employer Concerns: Nominated MP Mark Lee emphasized clear guidelines on reimbursement for businesses and reasonable grounds for leave deferrals, especially during critical periods like holidays.
Employee Support: He proposed extending paid coverage for returning employees by 1-2 months to offset operational disruptions.
Flexible Leave Arrangements
Ms. Sun suggested flexibility in taking leave across weeks, days, or half-days over 12 months to ease workforce management during peak seasons. Employers can utilize government reimbursements to hire temporary workers or support reintegration efforts.
Why It Matters
Singapore’s parental leave provisions have lagged behind global standards, with shared childcare responsibilities limited by traditional policies. Enhancements aim to address declining fertility rates while promoting family and business sustainability.
Ms. Sun reassured Parliament that at $2,500 per week, government reimbursements would fully cover wages for most employees on leave, reducing financial strain on businesses.
With these measures, Singapore continues its journey to becoming both a family-friendly and business-friendly society.
