Support measures for working parents affected by preschool closures

• The Straits Times (30 March 2020): "Can parental absence due to childcare centre closures be officially covered?"

Support measures for working parents affected by preschool closures - The Straits Times, 6 April 2020

1. We thank Mr Joel Gwynne for his feedback on working parents affected by preschool closures related to COVID-19 cases.
2. Amidst the evolving COVID-19 situation, employers and employees have had to make adjustments to daily routines and work arrangements. Balancing work commitments and childcare responsibilities may be challenging for working parents, particularly those affected by individual preschool closures.
3. Some working parents are able to deal with individual preschool closures by temporarily tapping on support from other caregivers such as family members or their Foreign Domestic Workers. With safe distancing measures due to COVID-19, employers are required to allow employees to telecommute if work can be done from home — this also helps working parents with their childcare needs in case of preschool closures.
4. We recognise that some working parents do not have access to help from others and cannot telecommute or stagger their work shifts due to the nature of their work. Employers should be compassionate and extend more flexibility in such circumstances.
5. In view of the upcoming Jobs Support Scheme pay-outs, employers are strongly encouraged to provide additional paid leave to these working parents. Employers should also allow these working parents to tap on their childcare or annual leave entitlements. Today, working parents of Singaporean children aged below seven are eligible for 6 days of paid childcare leave per year and almost half of all employees have more than 14 days of annual leave.
6. However, some employers may have to put employees who have used up their leave entitlements on no-pay leave.
7. We urge both employers and employees to work out amicable arrangements to balance the business needs with employees’ childcare needs in this difficult time.
   
   Then Yee Thoong
   Divisional Director
   Labour Relations and Workplaces Division
   Ministry of Manpower

Can parental absence due to childcare centre closures be officially covered? - The Straits Times, 30 March 2020

1. The Covid-19 situation and, in particular, the closure of the PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkletots centre at Fengshan Block 126 are stark reminders that the current childcare leave entitlement is insufficient during the current pandemic.
2. For many working parents, childcare centres are the only option for looking after their child. As the parent of a child who has been affected by the four-day closure of all PCF centres in Singapore due to the Fengshan cluster, I am left wondering how any parent without a helper or relatives who can care for the child is realistically expected to deal with a 14-day closure.
3. If the parent works a five-day week, this would still mean recording 10 days of absence from work to care for the child. The current annual childcare leave entitlement is only six days, and would not be enough. Medical leave would not apply, either.
4. Why has the Ministry of Manpower not prepared employers and employees with a better support system regarding how to officially process absence from work due to the Covid-19 situation? The ministry has provided guidance only for people such as travellers affected by leave of absence or stay-home notices.
5. If a childcare centre closes for 14 days due to an outbreak, are all children who attend the centre, and their parents, given a leave of absence?
6. All we have been told is that “employers should be empathetic”. This leaves the response entirely to the discretion of the employer, and does not answer the question of how the absence will be officially processed.
7. The Government needs to state clearly that all parental absence from work because of the closure of childcare centres due to Covid-19, regardless of the number of days, will be officially covered.
   
   Joel Gwynne