Employer's Awareness on Tripartite Standard on Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs

20 Mr David Hoe asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the Ministry's assessment of employer awareness of the Tripartite Standard on Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs, particularly for parents with children born premature, with congenital conditions or as part of multiple births; (b) how many employers have adopted this Standard from 2023 to date; and (c) what further outreach or support is planned to raise adoption of this Standard.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Manpower (Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong) (for the Minister for Manpower): Mr Speaker, from January 2023 to October 2025, 880 new employers have adopted the Tripartite Standard (TS) on Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs, bringing the total number of adopters to more than 4,500 employers.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM), tripartite partners and other agencies encourage employers to implement progressive employment practices, including adopting the TS on Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs. This is done through its various websites. The Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) has also conducted close to 20 workshops since 2020 to guide employers in implementing leave benefits, including adopting this TS. To create greater awareness, tripartite partners recognise organisations that have successfully implemented progressive employment practices, such as work-life programmes, through the biennial Tripartite Alliance Awards.

Mr Speaker: Mr David Hoe.

Mr David Hoe (Jurong East-Bukit Batok): Thank you, Mr Speaker. And I thank the Senior Parliamentary of State for his response. Given that pre-term infants often face prolonged Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stays and require follow-up appointments, has MOM studied whether the four weeks of unpaid leave per year under the current standard, is sufficient in duration and flexibility?

Next, could MOM also consider publishing a public registry of adopters with opt in, so parents can identify supportive employers?

Lastly, when might MOM intend to review the effectiveness of the TS and what indicators will it use?

Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong: Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his three supplementary questions. We have been progressively enhancing parental leave provisions to better support parents with young children, including the recent enhancements of the Government-Paid Paternity Leave, and the introduction of the new shared parental leave scheme. And with these enhancements, eligible parents can receive up to 30 weeks of parental leave in their child's first year.

Parents with multiple or pre-term births, or whose children have congenital conditions, can tap on these enhanced leave provisions to have more time to care for their children or settle caregiving arrangements. Beyond these leave provisions, flexible work arrangements can support all workers, including parents, to more effectively balance their caregiving responsibilities and career aspirations.

The Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests implemented in December 2024, sets out the process for employees to formally request for flexible work arrangements and for employers to consider and respond to these requests on reasonable business grounds. Parents can discuss suitable flexible work arrangements with their employers if they require more time to care for their children.

With regard to the TS adopters, it is already available on Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices' (TAFEP's) website.

And on Member's third question, MOM will continuously monitor these indicators and make necessary adjustments if required in the future.