Measures to Safeguard Long-term Financial Security of Family Caregivers Who Left Workforce or Reduced Work Hours
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns measures to safeguard the long-term financial security of family caregivers who leave the workforce or reduce work hours, as raised by Mr Low Wu Yang Andre. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli B M M emphasized that remaining in employment through flexible work arrangements and reskilling offers the most reliable financial assurance. He highlighted support schemes such as the Workfare Income Supplement, enhanced parental leave, preschool subsidies, and the Home Caregiving Grant. For senior caregivers, retirement adequacy is bolstered through the Silver Support Scheme, Matched Retirement Savings Scheme, and the Majulah Package. The Government will continue reviewing support needs at different life stages while working with employers and the community to ensure sustainable caregiving.
Transcript
28 Mr Low Wu Yang Andre asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what specific measures, such as direct compensation or CPF contributions, are being considered to safeguard the long-term financial security of family caregivers who leave the workforce or reduce their work hours; and (b) what is the Ministry's assessment of the feasibility of such direct support schemes.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Government recognises the important role that caregivers play in their family and in our society. Supporting caregivers to stay working where possible, enables them to pursue their aspirations and meaningful careers, while providing the most reliable assurance for their long-term financial security. We enable working caregivers to balance work with caregiving through setting norms and expectations on flexible work arrangements (FWAs) via the Tripartite Guidelines on FWA Requests and by providing employment facilitation and reskilling support for those who wish to return to work.
Working caregivers may also be eligible for the Workfare Income Supplement, which supplements eligible lower-wage workers' income and retirement savings. From 1 Apr 2025, eligible parents can also make use of the enhanced Government-Paid Paternity Leave and a new Shared Parental Leave scheme.
Caregivers can benefit from a range of support to help them defray the costs of caregiving. As announced at Budget 2025, caregivers can benefit from enhancements to subsidies, grants and insurance for long-term care, like the Home Caregiving Grant and CareShield Life. Parents with young children also receive a wide range of financial support, such as the Baby Bonus Cash Gift and preschool subsidies.
Eligible caregivers who are seniors can also benefit from the Silver Support Scheme and Matched Retirement Savings Scheme which were enhanced from January 2025, and the Majulah Package for seniors born in 1973 or earlier. These provide an additional boost to eligible seniors' retirement and healthcare adequacy, including those with caregiving duties.
The Government, employers and the community each has a role to play in supporting our caregivers so that they can balance caregiving with their other responsibilities sustainably. We will continue to review the support caregivers need at different stages of life.