Insights on Older Mothers' Maternal and Child Health and Implications for Workforce Participation
Ministry of FinanceSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns insights into maternal and child health for mothers in their 40s and the implications for workforce participation, as raised by Ms Valerie Lee. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah stated that public hospitals provide specialised care and neonatal intensive care units to manage higher risks of maternal and foetal complications. She noted that the Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) Reset Workgroup is currently reviewing fertility health service funding and developing a long-term roadmap for policy enhancements. Workforce support includes job matching, career conversion programmes, and the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests to help parents balance professional and personal responsibilities. The Government remains committed to enhancing policies and mobilising stakeholders to support Singaporeans through every stage of their marriage and parenthood journeys.
Transcript
68 Ms Valerie Lee asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance with an increasing trend of babies born to mothers in their 40s (a) whether the Ministry has (i) analysed what the insights are for maternal and child health and (ii) studied the implications for workforce participation; and (b) what targeted healthcare, fertility support and workplace measures are in place to support this growing segment of older mothers.
Ms Indranee Rajah: Both men and women are marrying and having children later. Mothers over 40 years of age have higher risk of maternal and foetal complications. Our public hospitals provide specialised care for such high-risk pregnancies, including being equipped with neonatal intensive care units for newborns requiring greater medical care.
Later marriages and births have also resulted in more couples experiencing challenges in conceiving naturally. As part of the effort of the Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) Reset Workgroup, funding for fertility health services and support for those undergoing fertility treatments are being reviewed.
On workforce participation, the Workforce Singapore provides a range of job matching and career guidance services, including for mothers in their 40s to stay in or return to the workforce. There are also programmes, such as career conversion programmes and mid-career pathways programmes, to support women who are keen to explore new roles.
Flexible work arrangements (FWAs) play an important role in supporting working parents in managing work and personal responsibilities. The Tripartite Guidelines on FWA Requests set out guidelines for employees', employers' and supervisors' considerations on FWAs.
The Government remains committed to supporting Singaporeans through every stage of marriage and parenthood. Last week, we announced the composition and scope of a newly formed M&P Reset Workgroup. It will develop a longer-term roadmap on how M&P is perceived, supported and realised, propose policy enhancements and mobilise stakeholders across society to collectively support Singaporeans in their M&P journeys.