SINGAPORE — The People’s Action Party (PAP) Women’s Wing has called for greater governmental intervention to encourage more pro-family and women-friendly workplaces in order to tap into this talent pool.

Women’s labour force participation rate in Singapore stands at 57.7 per cent as compared to men at 76 per cent.

In a position paper entitled Women at Work submitted to the Manpower Ministry today, the PAP Women’s Wing proposed seven measures with include setting up pro-family employment guidelines and eventually, legislation which allows employees with children below the age of 12 to request for flexible work arrangements and up to one year of no pay leave.

It also called for more protection and training programmes for freelancers and contract workers.

To facilitate these practices, it suggested a One Stop Centre to enforce these practices, provide retraining and job matching services to prepare women to return to the workforce.

To incentivise employers, it proposed employer grants in a Back to Work Employment Credit Scheme and preferential status for those who adopt pro-family practices.

The paper was presented by Members of Parliament Foo Mee Har and Fatimah Lateef with other members from the Women’s Wing Advocacy Sub-Committee.