Applications by Fathers for Full Paternity Leave

2 Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) how many eligible working fathers have applied for a full week of paid paternity leave in 2016; and (b) what is the percentage of applications from the Civil Service.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social and Family Development (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim) (for the Minister for Social and Family Development): Madam, among fathers of children born in 2016, about 11,300 fathers have applied for Government-Paid Paternity Leave so far. This figure is still increasing as fathers have the flexibility to take Paternity Leave up to 12 months after their child's birth. The figures will only be finalised at the end of March 2018, when the deadline for the submission of claims is over. Sixteen percent of these applications are from the Civil Service.

Mdm Speaker: Mr Seah Kian Peng.

Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade): I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for the answer. A few supplementary questions. So, 11,300 applied in 2016. When I compare this with the corresponding figures for previous years, I note that there were 12,000-over in 2015, and about 11,900 in 2014. Percentage wise, the Parliamentary Secretary mentioned that it was 16% for 2016. This is a big drop from the earlier percentages of 25% in 2015 and 35% in 2014.

To me, these figures do not look very encouraging. Why are fathers not applying? Or are employers not approving or not encouraging fathers to apply? What is the Civil Service going to do about it?

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Madam, I shall clarify further. In my answer earlier, I mentioned that 11,300 fathers had applied and 16% is with regard to the whole number and the base that we have. If members look at the actual take-up rate, in fact, it has gone up. In 2014, we had about 38.5% take-up rate; in 2015, it was 44.1%; in 2016, as at to date, it is 35.7%. But like I said earlier, fathers have up to 12 months to take the paternity leave from the date of the birth of their child. On the other hand, the employer has three months more to submit the claims.

The figures for 2015 and 2016 have not been finalised and we expect the figures to be higher. If you look back, the trend has been going up, and it is encouraging.

As for the Civil Service, the 16% is with regard to the total applications. But if you look at the numbers and figures for the Civil Service, in fact, they have also been creeping up. As at to date, 91.4% of eligible fathers in the Civil Service have applied for this leave. Again, similar to what I said earlier, we have not reached the cut-off dates. We expect the percentage to go up further, which is very encouraging.

We are very committed to encouraging fathers to be part of the family development and child-raising process. As such, we have been reaching out to employers to develop family-friendly workplaces and environment. At the same time, there are all the different platforms and initiatives undertaken to provide opportunities for fathers to play a role, not only from Government, but also from community organisations. I am very heartened that Members like Mr Seah and Mr Louis Ng, and my own Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, are trying to promote active fathering. I think this is something that we should develop further. We should harness this within our society so that the whole spectrum of fathering becomes part and parcel of the process of family development. I believe this will help to strengthen our families and will somehow enhance the development of our society.