Plans to Support Mothers Re-entering Workforce with Difficulty Matching Employment Hours with Opening Hours of Childcare Services
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Christopher de Souza’s inquiry regarding support for mothers re-entering the workforce who struggle to match employment hours with childcare operating hours. Minister Mrs Josephine Teo stated that while standard childcare hours are 7 am to 7 pm, the Government encourages flexible work arrangements (FWAs) through the Work-Life Grant. She noted that 1,900 employers have adopted the Tripartite Standard on FWAs, which assists employees through options like telecommuting or flexible start times. Mothers can also utilize Workforce Singapore’s Adapt and Grow initiative and NTUC-e2i career centers to find job matches that accommodate their specific caregiving needs. These measures, along with extended childcare services in approximately 55 centers, aim to help mothers better integrate into the workforce while managing their families' schedules.
Transcript
12 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Manpower what is being done to support mothers re-entering the workforce who may experience difficulty matching their employment hours with the opening hours of childcare services.
Mrs Josephine Teo: To cater to the needs of working parents, including mothers re-entering the workforce, childcare centres are required to operate from 7 am to 7 pm on weekdays, and from 7 am to 2 pm on Saturdays. This arrangement meets the needs of most parents, without extending the working hours of childcare centre workers.
For families working shifts or on weekends, many of them arrange for other care-givers, such as grandparents and relatives, to help out. Some centres may extend their services, taking into consideration demand and resources. Currently, around 55 centres operate beyond 7 pm on weekdays.
Mothers, including those re-entering the workforce, may prefer some flexibility in their work hours to meet their care-giving needs. Through the Work-Life Grant and Tripartite Standard (TS) on Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs), the Government encourages employers to provide FWAs such as flexible start and end times or telecommuting to help employees better manage work and family responsibilities. As at end-September, around 1,900 employers, covering around 450,000 employees, have adopted the Tripartite Standard on FWAs. Jobseekers who require FWAs may find a better job fit with an employer that has adopted the TS on FWAs.
Mothers looking for employment can also tap on Workforce Singapore (WSG)’s Adapt and Grow initiative, which offers a suite of employment services and programmes to help jobseekers to enter into new jobs. For more information, jobseekers can visit WSG’s Careers Connect and NTUC-e2i's career centres to find out more.