SINGAPORE — Helping fathers play a more active role in raising children is one of the three areas where the Government wants to help new parents, said Senior Minister of State (Prime Minister’s Office) Josephine Teo.

The other two are giving new parents more affordable yet high-quality childcare options and improving support for new parents in the workplace and community.

Mrs Teo, who helps oversee the National Population and Talent Division, shared these through a Facebook post today (Jan 4), after announcing over the weekend that enhancements will be made to the Marriage and Parenthood Package, which last saw changes in the previous year.

Among the improvements introduced were a second week of paternity leave on a voluntary basis. But Mrs Teo noted that with eight in 10 Singaporean women aged 25 to 54 active in the workforce, mothers can do with more help from their husbands in taking care of their children.

She also said that teamwork is “essential” in rearing children, adding that several studies show that children with more involved fathers have better developmental outcomes.

With more mothers and grandparents in the workforce, Mrs Teo noted that childcare services are much sought after. On this front, the Government is “on track” to providing sufficient childcare places for one in two children in every estate by next year, she said. In terms of boosting support for parents at the workplace and in the community, she noted that many parents have told her they feel encouraged to have more children because of supportive elders or employers.

“A strong culture of support is crucial in helping them pursue both their career and parenthood aspirations,” said Mrs Teo. “They hope there will be more good jobs with flexi-time or part-time options, and that employers will be understanding when they need time off to care for their child.”

Malls, eateries and places of interests can also be more family-friendly, she added.

Sociologists TODAY interviewed over the weekend had said the Government could offer employers more incentives to adopt flexible work arrangements or increase the quota for childcare leave or maternity leave.

They added that the additional enhancements, which were planned so soon after more benefits were given to spur parenthood, may have to do with riding on the momentum of two years of healthy marriage and birth rates. The figures for 2015 have not been finalised yet, but signs point to a similar showing to 2014. That year, there were about 33,000 babies, the highest in a decade.

From 2000 to 2014, Singapore’s total fertility rate, which refers to the average number of children born to a woman by the end of her childbearing years, fell from 1.6 to 1.25.

In her post today, Mrs Teo also said that with young Singaporeans juggling different pursuits, “one tough nut” that is difficult for the Government to crack is helping singles settle down. “Obviously, these involve personal choices — there are some who may prefer singlehood and couples who prefer not to have children. Our overall approach is to focus on those who wish to marry and have children, and help them do so sooner rather than later,” she said.