6 months' paid leave for mum?

[LOLMum]

Sunday times jul 22 2012


The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has come up with suggestions to nudge reluctant Singaporeans to have more babies.

At the top of its wish list: give working mothers six months’ paid maternity leave, with an option for a further six months’ unpaid leave.

Also, it believes bigger government housing grants would help couples get their first Housing Board flat earlier and hopefully start families sooner too.

And it wants employers to do more to help employees balance their work and family life. This means going beyond merely paying lip service, and making flexible work arrangements a reality.

NTUC assistant secretary-general Cham Hui Fong told The Sunday Times that these and other recommendations by its family unit will be handed to the National Population and Talent Division this week.

The Government is reviewing policies to encourage Singaporeans to marry and have babies as Singapore’s total fertility rate has fallen to 1.2 children per woman of childbearing age, far below the replacement rate of 2.1.

The labour movement consulted members, conducted surveys and held small group discussions before drawing up its suggestions.

It hopes to encourage young couples without children to start families, as well as convince those with only one child to consider having more, said Ms Cham, 43, a former nominated MP.

She thinks it would make a difference if maternity leave goes up from the current four months to six months. “When parents don’t want to have a second kid, they say it is because they don’t have enough quality time to spend with the child,” she said.

But even if the Government pays for the additional two months of maternity leave, there must be buy-in from smaller firms because they have to hire temporary staff when mothers go on long leave.

“Today, if we say there is no discrimination, we’re kidding ourselves,” Ms Cham said. “In reality, some women fear that if they disappear from the job for six months, they can be displaced forever.”

Still, she felt six months’ maternity leave would be attractive to women considering motherhood.

To make housing more affordable for young couples, she hoped the Government would increase the housing subsidy, which is now between $30,000 and $40,000 for first-time HDB resale flat buyers.

Young couples say they still find it hard to afford their first flat. The extra financial help might reverse the trend of delayed marriage, said Ms Cham, citing the rising number of singles aged 25 to 29.

The NTUC’s list of ideas includes having two days’ mandatory paternity leave. “The guys don’t mind taking their own leave, but it’s a kind of support that the company can give if we want to promote equal parenting,” she said.

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:rahrah: Or. :yikes:

Parents will :please: but co workers n boss might :faint: .

[limlim]

More interested to hear abt what system they have in place, to deal with employers from terminating someone < 6mths into the pregnancy…

[LOLMum]

I think there are more reports about pregnant workers given the big envelope in the Chinese evening papers. Very few reported in the English papers.


But usually there is no follow up after a day or two of reporting.

[Funz]

There’s always 2 sides to a coin. Not saying that discrimination does not happen but just that not all employees who get the boot when they are preggers are the victims.


On the topic of maternity leave, I am wondering if it is possible to have the 6mths shared between husband and wife.

[buds]

How about incentives for stay home mothers as well?

There are many SAHMs who used to be professionals.
Though they cannot contribute to the economy after
staying home now, they can help contribute to the
boost in baby numbers. :please:

> Bigger subsidies for housing (bigger homes for bigger families, not pigeon holes)
> NO COE for family of four and above! :rubhands: (a necessity for travelling liao)

> Higher preschool subsidies (preschool is the most expensive phase in a child's early part of life)

> Cut some slack for spousal support (bosses should be more understanding
when the hubbies take more days leave on top of the given paternity ones)

Hubs had to fight (for the right) for the two weeks leave to help run the house
and take care of myself and the newborn.

[tankee]

While I rejoice for the mothers, motherhood and families, I fear the disruption to the workplace.

[buds]

Yes, 6mths is a long time.


When i was working then.. even a false alarm at the hospital got my lady boss all worked up. As if she never got pregnant or gave birth before. Truth is, in teaching line.. we are bonded with the children and the parents. They send the children to us cause we are there (because in preschool years one can still choose to put children in ctrs and teachers they prefer). Being absent for 6mths for newbie kiddies we took in will mean that they have to re-adapt to the environment under the care of another teacher... unless of course all this time there were two fixed teachers teaching then the damage may not be sooo bad. But still...

We have school-going children too... so we understand... as we have been in both sides of the fence before.

So, what gives....?

[buds]

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has come up with suggestions to nudge reluctant Singaporeans to have more babies.


I'm not reluctant..

Okay mebbe i was at first..

But i oredi have them now. :love:

[php]

buds:

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has come up with suggestions to nudge reluctant Singaporeans to have more babies.


I'm not reluctant..

Okay mebbe i was at first..

But i oredi have them now. :love:

buds...check with them whether can backdate or not....and you can claim up to 12-24 months of leave....hahaha....

[tankee]

Kind of strange that it came from NTUC