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"Beyond leave provisions, it is equally important for employers to implement work-life friendly practices, such as flexible work arrangements, and demonstrate understanding towards parents who may require time away from work to care for their children," the minister stressed.
Parents of premature babies and adoptive mothers are unlikely to get additional paid leave for now, as the Government weighs further changes against the impact on employers.
Responding to parliamentary questions on child-related leave, and on behalf of Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong, Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, and Second Minister for Finance and National Development said the Government receives regular feedback on how such provisions can be improved, including calls for more leave for parents whose babies are born prematurely.
The MATTER was raised because preterm babies may need more care and medical attention, especially if they face health complications.
Minister Indranee stated that parental leave has already been “significantly enhanced” in recent years, with parents now receiving 30 weeks of paid leave, including 10 weeks under the Shared Parental Leave scheme.
In considering further enhancements to leave provisions, she added, the Government will have to strike a balance between employees’ caregiving needs, and the operational impact on employers, who are still adjusting to recent parental leave enhancements.
She said support for parents should also come from the workplace, not just through statutory leave. Employers should put in place family-friendly practices such as flexible work arrangements, and be understanding when parents need time away from work to care for their children. Further, Minister Indranee assured that the Government will work alongside tripartite partners to encourage more work-life friendly workplaces.
In a separate reply, Minister Indranee also addressed whether adoption leave should be increased from 12 weeks to 16 weeks, so that it matches maternity leave.
She shared that biological mothers are given 16 weeks of maternity leave because they need additional time to recover physically from childbirth. Adoptive mothers currently receive 12 weeks of adoption leave.
Apart from that difference, adoptive parents receive the same parental and childcare leave benefits as biological parents, she noted.
"This includes the new 10-week Shared Parental Leave scheme, which was introduced last year to encourage shared parental responsibility, and provide more time for parents to care for and bond with their newborns," she elaborated.
Lead image / MDDI Singapore YouTube
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