The men don't get it. Why?
| Section: | Prime - News |
| By: | LI XUEYING |
| Publication: | The Straits Times 20/08/2008 |
| Page: | A3 |
| No. of words: | 724 |
Paternity leave would hit the bottom line
hard, say companies
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' Paternity leave in Singapore - To be or not to be? '
In the recent years, Singapore's fertility rate itself has been an issue for the Singapore Government, where in 2007, it was as low as 1.29 children born per women, making it one of the lowest in the world. Thus, there was clearly a need for the government to make a move in encouraging parenthood. Even though Singapore's government has taken many measures to encourage parenthood for Singapore citizens, such as baby bonuses and maternity leaves, it still misses out one form of encouragement that could very well improve the fertility rate in Singapore: Paternity leave for the working fathers.
Up till now, the Singapore Government does not recognize paternity leave as an official incentive for parenthood. While on the other hand, it is known that half of private-sector employers voluntarily give paternity leave. This then makes us wonder - Why not implement paternity leave? As fathers, especially for those who just had their first child, clearly had every reason to have a leave off from work and spend good quality time with their newborn child with their spouses. At the same time it will nurture family bonding, mutual understanding between husbands and wives and so much more. The very early stages of parenthood may very well be vital for family development.
Also as mentioned earlier, isn't the Government actually trying to encourage parenthood in Singapore in order to increase the fertility rate, slowly but surely? All the more for paternity leave to be recognized under the Government's offerings to encourage parenthood. Moreover, there is also the issue on the shared responsibility of childcare itself. With most fathers being the sole breadwinner of their families, certainly it is the mothers who spend more time taking care of their newborn child. By encouraging fathers to take infant care leave, it will thus send a strong message that childcare has to be the responsibility of both parents.
So then again, with all the reasons fathers could provide, why still not paternity leave? Is it a matter of disadvantages outweighing the advantages of implementing paternity leave? Or is there something at stake if paternity leave was ever recognized as an official incentive? Well the latter is the reason. Also, that 'something at stake' is basically Singapore's economy.
Will the economy really be hit so badly when paternity leave is implemented as a whole in Singapore? Well, the answer is a highly possible yes. With men forming more than half of the total people in the resident workforce of Singapore citizens compared to women as mentioned in the article, clearly there will be impact on Singapore's economy. Not only in numbers, but also with the higher salaries that most men earn compared to women, it suggest that men are the ones who hold the more senior positions of responsibilites in their respective companies, i.e the higher ups. On average, men earned $4,335 a month last year whereas women received $3,148 as mentioned in the article. Hence simply put, having men taking a time off could impact companies' operations harder.
With Singapore's economy at stake, it is reasonable enough for the Government to put off the idea of having paternity leave as an option for now. Well, at least in my point of view. As mentioned, Singapore just cannot afford to have their men in the workforce to be on leave for too long. However at the brighter side of things as mentioned in the article, the Government has declared that paternity leave is not entirely out of the option in time to come. So fathers out there do not be in despair yet, for the time may actually come when paternity leave will be implemented. But do not be too hopeful though. Also, I suggest you fathers hang in there and try to spend as much time with your families.
Up till now, the Singapore Government does not recognize paternity leave as an official incentive for parenthood. While on the other hand, it is known that half of private-sector employers voluntarily give paternity leave. This then makes us wonder - Why not implement paternity leave? As fathers, especially for those who just had their first child, clearly had every reason to have a leave off from work and spend good quality time with their newborn child with their spouses. At the same time it will nurture family bonding, mutual understanding between husbands and wives and so much more. The very early stages of parenthood may very well be vital for family development.
Also as mentioned earlier, isn't the Government actually trying to encourage parenthood in Singapore in order to increase the fertility rate, slowly but surely? All the more for paternity leave to be recognized under the Government's offerings to encourage parenthood. Moreover, there is also the issue on the shared responsibility of childcare itself. With most fathers being the sole breadwinner of their families, certainly it is the mothers who spend more time taking care of their newborn child. By encouraging fathers to take infant care leave, it will thus send a strong message that childcare has to be the responsibility of both parents.
So then again, with all the reasons fathers could provide, why still not paternity leave? Is it a matter of disadvantages outweighing the advantages of implementing paternity leave? Or is there something at stake if paternity leave was ever recognized as an official incentive? Well the latter is the reason. Also, that 'something at stake' is basically Singapore's economy.
Will the economy really be hit so badly when paternity leave is implemented as a whole in Singapore? Well, the answer is a highly possible yes. With men forming more than half of the total people in the resident workforce of Singapore citizens compared to women as mentioned in the article, clearly there will be impact on Singapore's economy. Not only in numbers, but also with the higher salaries that most men earn compared to women, it suggest that men are the ones who hold the more senior positions of responsibilites in their respective companies, i.e the higher ups. On average, men earned $4,335 a month last year whereas women received $3,148 as mentioned in the article. Hence simply put, having men taking a time off could impact companies' operations harder.
With Singapore's economy at stake, it is reasonable enough for the Government to put off the idea of having paternity leave as an option for now. Well, at least in my point of view. As mentioned, Singapore just cannot afford to have their men in the workforce to be on leave for too long. However at the brighter side of things as mentioned in the article, the Government has declared that paternity leave is not entirely out of the option in time to come. So fathers out there do not be in despair yet, for the time may actually come when paternity leave will be implemented. But do not be too hopeful though. Also, I suggest you fathers hang in there and try to spend as much time with your families.
