Written Answer by Mrs Josephine Teo Minister for Manpower to PQ on Support for Working Caregivers

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1989 OF 2020 FOR 18 FEBRUARY SITTING

QUESTION NO. 3469 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER 

MP: Ms Foo Mee Har

To ask the Minister for Manpower how can the Government and tripartite partners encourage employers to provide support to employees with caregiving responsibilities such as family care leave to help them cope with work and caregiving responsibilities.

Answer

1. The Government and tripartite partners are committed to provide working caregivers with the necessary support so that they can fulfil both their work and caregiving responsibilities. To better understand the needs of caregivers, MOH led a cross-agency review in 2018. When interviewed, employees who were caregivers provided feedback that Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs) were more important than other measures such as family care leave in supporting them in their caregiving needs.
2. To help caregivers, MOM has, together with our tripartite partners, adopted a multi-pronged strategy to support and encourage employers to adopt FWAs. First, we provide grants to employers who adopt FWAs. In 2019, MOM increased the Work-Life Grant (WLG) budget to $100 million to support and encourage more companies to provide FWAs to their employees. Second, through the Tripartite Standard (TS) on FWAs, we recognise progressive employers who offer FWAs. As at end-Dec 2019, close to 2,100 employers responsible for some 470,000 employees, have adopted the TS FWAs. Third, we guide employers on how to implement FWAs. Resources such as the Tripartite Advisory (TA) on FWAs and Job-Sharing Implementation Guide help them make FWAs available to their employees. Fourth, we actively promote FWAs among employers and raise their awareness of how FWAs can improve their staff retention. We reach them through sector-specific engagement sessions, online marketing and roadshows.
3. These efforts are paying off as we are seeing more employers offering FWAs. Based on MOM surveys, more than 9 in 10 employers in 2018 offered some form of formal or ad-hoc FWAs, up from about 8 in 10 in 2013¹. As a result, more employees are benefiting from FWAs. Among those who required FWAs in 2018, more than 8 in 10 could avail themselves to the FWA they needed, which was an increase from 2016, when only 7 in 10 could do so². 
4. In response to the Citizens’ Panel on Work-Life Harmony’s recommendations made last year, our tripartite partners will also commit to intensifying their efforts to support adoption of FWAs. More details will be shared at the upcoming Committee of Supply debates.