Louis Ng on Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill
The Government has sent a strong message to employers and fathers by increasing mandatory paternity leave to four weeks, but this legislative signal must be accompanied by “softer measures” to encourage fathers to actually take the leave, said MP Louis Ng. He also called for more targeted support for fathers in low-income or labour-intensive jobs to take their paternity leave, citing a study that found they are less likely to do so. Finally, Mr Ng urged Singapore to take steps towards equalising maternity and paternity leave. He said the existing big gap entrenches gender stereotypes and is a “self-reinforcing loop” in which fathers have less leave and thus fail to develop the skills and confidence needed to care for their kids. He spoke in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 13).
The Government has sent a strong message to employers and fathers by increasing mandatory paternity leave to four weeks, but this legislative signal must be accompanied by “softer measures” to encourage fathers to actually take the leave, said MP Louis Ng. He also called for more targeted support for fathers in low-income or labour-intensive jobs to take their paternity leave, citing a study that found they are less likely to do so. Finally, Mr Ng urged Singapore to take steps towards equalising maternity and paternity leave. He said the existing big gap entrenches gender stereotypes and is a “self-reinforcing loop” in which fathers have less leave and thus fail to develop the skills and confidence needed to care for their kids. He spoke in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 13).
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