NTUC pushes for more support for workers balancing caregiving and employment responsibilities
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has called for increased support for workers who care for elderly family members, recommending flexible work arrangements and statutory paid caregiving leave. In a statement on Wednesday (Sep 20), NTUC’s secretary-general Ng Chee Meng highlighted that flexible work options would benefit both employers and workers. These arrangements could include task splitting, remote work, and flexible hours to support caregiving responsibilities, thus improving job retention and providing workers with space to care for their loved ones.
NTUC also urged employers to include flexible work options in job advertisements, helping caregivers identify suitable positions. It also recommended that the government implement statutory paid caregiving leave for all workers to support them in meeting the demands of caregiving. The union further suggested that the definition of family members eligible for care should be extended to include those related by blood, marriage, or adoption, and should encompass both physical and mental health conditions.
Despite the lack of statutory caregiving leave, there has been an increase in employers offering paid family care leave, with 30% of employers providing this in 2022—double the percentage from 2012. However, there are concerns from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) about the financial and operational burden of implementing such leave policies.
NTUC also recommended unpaid leave for unexpected caregiving needs and urged businesses to review their policies to offer more support, such as extending medical and insurance coverage to cover both workers and their elderly family members.
The Ministry of Manpower acknowledged the feedback and emphasized that any improvements in caregiving support must consider business sustainability and other economic challenges.
