Family Futures

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Supporting families with their

work and family life aspirations

Stephanie Tan, Manager, Family Policy Unit; Rahayu Buang, Deputy Director, Family Policy Unit;

Charlotte Beck, Senior Director, Family Development Group, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Singapore

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trong families lay a firm foundation for a strong

nation. As the first line of care and support for

their members and the basic building block of

society, strong and stable families are crucial for the

well-being of individuals and the nation. The Singapore

Government gives special emphasis to promoting and

supporting families.

One key challenge facing families in Singapore is how to

achieve a good work-life fit. Developments like rapid globali-

zation, technological advancements and greater connectivity

have created opportunities for new jobs, economic growth

and higher standards of living. However, increasing

economic demands and competition have given rise to

strains, particularly on the family. Family structures are also

changing. More women are working and there is an increas-

ing number of families where both spouses are working.

The labour force participation rate for women increased

from 50 per cent in 2000 to 58 per cent in 2012. Among

those aged 35-39, the increase was even greater, from 63

per cent in 2001 to 79 per cent in 2012. In 2010, among

households headed by married couples, 47 per cent had

both spouses working compared to 41 per cent in 2000.

These trends change the dynamics within the family. They

also pose challenges for families, especially working parents

with young children, to juggle work, marriage and care-

giving responsibilities. These stresses can give rise to marital

conflicts. In this new environment where both parents work,

the traditional gender role of the male as the breadwinner and

the female as the main caregiver is changing and has to evolve.

Over the years, the Singapore Government has worked

with multiple stakeholders to introduce various measures

to support families in their work and family aspirations.

These include legislative provisions that support the family

at work; the provision of family support services; promo-

tion of work-life harmony through a tripartite committee,

and equipping individuals and families with positive mind-

sets and tools to lead a fulfilling family life. Some of these

measures are described below with a special emphasis on

support measures for families with children.

First, there is a range of family care leave schemes to

support working parents. To help mothers recover from

childbirth and bond with their newborn children, eligible

working mothers covered under the Child Development

Co-Savings Act (CDCA) can have up to 16 weeks of paid

maternity leave for all births. For the first two births, the

employer pays for the first eight weeks of maternity leave

and the Government funds the remaining eight weeks,

subject to a cap of S$20,000. For the third and subsequent

births, the Government funds the full 16 weeks of mater-

nity leave, capped at S$40,000. The last eight weeks of

leave can be taken flexibly over a 12-month period from the

child’s birth. A government-paid maternity benefit was also

introduced on 1 January 2013 to provide working women

who do not qualify for maternity leave (for example, short-

term contract workers) with the government-paid share of

maternity leave in the form of a cash benefit.

Recognizing that fathers play an important role in raising

children, since 1 May 2013 working fathers have received one

week of paid paternity leave, to be taken within 16 weeks

of the child’s birth or flexibly within 12 months if there is

agreement between the employer and employee. To encourage

shared parental responsibility and give working parents addi-

Nursing home residents and student volunteers enjoying a moment of

interaction in a sing-along session

Image: Ren Ci Hospital, Singapore