Civil servants to get day off to volunteer at charities
DPM Teo Chee Hean (centre) with the Distinguished Star Service Award recipients during the Public Service Awards Ceremony on Oct 15, 2015,. Photo: Wee Teck Hian
SINGAPORE — From January, all civil servants will be able to take one day of volunteer leave per year to volunteer at any Institution of a Public Character of their choice.
The Public Service will also collectively adopt at least 50 charities in the coming year. The adoption of charities is to encourage a “culture of volunteerism and caring” among public officers, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean as he presented more than 300 awards to public officers and agencies at the Public Service Awards Ceremony today (Oct 15).
This is the first time the Public Service will be collectively adopting charities, although some government agencies have individually done so.
Each agency may choose the charity it wishes to adopt and the duration of the adoption. The aim is for the relationship to be sustainable.
A senior officer in each government ministry will be a champion and facilitator to encourage volunteerism in the ministry and its statutory boards, said Mr Teo, who is Minister-in-charge of the Civil Service.
It is important for the Public Service to be caring, coordinated and connected, he said.
“We need a Public Service that stays connected with the people we serve — to listen deeply and better understand aspirations and concerns, and to work together with Singaporeans to make Singapore a better home for all of us.”
Head of Civil Service Peter Ong said a culture of volunteerism is essential to foster a caring and cohesive society.
“The Public Service is playing our part by supporting and encouraging more public officers to volunteer. We believe that the adoption of different charities will allow for sustained commitment among public officers, who will build meaningful relationships with their adopted charities,” said Mr Ong.
Examples of long-term volunteerism by agencies include that of the Singapore Customs with the Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled since 2001. Singapore Customs officers regularly serve as outing buddies and have helped raise funds through the annual sale of vegetables planted by residents of the home.
Since 2013, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth has adopted Stamford CareHut, a school-based student care centre. Volunteers conduct weekly reading sessions for Primary One and Two students at the centre and have established a fund to support children who show potential in areas such as sports and the arts.
The day of volunteer leave will be part of civil servants’ 14 days of unrecorded leave, beyond their vacation leave, for other approved purposes such as parent care and marriage.
“I think this is a good step forward,” said senior executive of communications and strategic relations with the Public Service Division Mok Yee Soon. “It provides officers greater opportunities to volunteer based on the charity’s needs.”
Today, DPM Teo also launched the Public Service Festival, which will share the transformation of the Singapore Public Service over the past 50 years, and offer a glimpse of its future. The festival will be held at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre until tomorrow.
