Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim on Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill

The Bill will make timely and necessary improvements in efforts towards becoming a “Singapore Made for Families”, said NMP Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Sep 18), she noted that the Government has taken steps to facilitate marriage, housing access, education and financial stability. She said these initiatives are particularly vital for women who historically take on child-rearing responsibilities. She stressed that gender equality is crucial for Singapore's continued success and to achieve this, it must maintain women's rights, make family life enriching and continuously engage Singaporean girls and women. She also sought clarifications on the Bill. She wanted to know what initiatives are in place to encourage men to utilise their paternity leave entitlement, address factors like company culture and social norms that may prevent fathers from taking up the leave, as well as promote more equal parenting roles in households, especially during paternity leave.