Sir, my generation is simultaneously asked to have more children and to support our ageing parents so they can age in place — often at the same time, often with the same leave pool.
In my maiden speech, I said that caregiving is work, and we can and should do more to support caregivers.
Today, childcare leave remains the only legislated form of ongoing paid caregiving leave. Each parent receives 2 to 6 days a year, regardless of how many children they have. Yet we know that caregiving demands multiply with each child and do not divide neatly between siblings. If we are serious about supporting families who choose to have more children, our leave framework should reflect that reality.
The Workers' Party recommends extending childcare leave on a per-child basis, up to age 12.
We also propose establishing paid family care leave for Singaporeans with primary caregiving responsibilities for elderly parents or family members with severe disabilities. There is also the Tripartite Standard on Unpaid Caregiving Leave. But it is voluntary, covers only hospitalisation events, and has only been adopted by a small fraction of employers. It also encourages employees to first use their annual leave. So we are back to the same challenge I raised in my maiden speech — caregivers burning their leave time meant for their own rest, with no income protection.
Singaporeans should not have to choose between caring for their loved ones and taking care of themselves. I ask the Government to go further — and go sooner rather than later.
