Government-paid Family Care Leave for Single Employees Who Are Primary Caregivers of Elderly Parents or Dependants with Disabilities

Miss Rachel Ong asked the Acting Minister for Manpower in light of enhanced Government-paid childcare leave announced at National Day Rally 2026, whether the Government will consider mandatory and Government-paid family care leave for single employees who are primary caregivers of elderly parents or dependants with disabilities, to reflect caregiving responsibility rather than parental status.

The Government recognises the diverse caregiving needs of working Singaporeans, including those caring for elderly parents or dependants with disabilities.

In evaluating how best to support them, we consider how these needs can be met in a sustainable way that also accounts for employers' operational needs.

Based on feedback from working caregivers, flexible work arrangements (FWAs), such as flexible hours, part-time employment and job sharing, are often what caregivers find most useful, as they allow caregivers to manage recurring caregiving responsibilities rather than just discrete leave days. This preference for flexibility is reflected in the Ministry of Manpower's 2024 Survey on Employees' Working Conditions, which found that FWAs were the most influential work-life harmony factor in job choice, ahead of leave benefits and employee support schemes.

The Tripartite Guidelines on FWA Requests, launched in 2024, set out a formal process for employees to request FWAs and for employers to consider them on business grounds. Employers can tap on resources from TAFEP and the Institute of Human Resource Professionals for implementation support.

The Government will continue to regularly review our support for working caregivers, as part of our broader efforts to build an inclusive and supportive workplace culture.