Debated in Parliament on 24 Feb 2026.
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Manpower for each year from 2021 to 2025 (a) how many working adults left employment due to eldercare commitments; (b) what is the demographic breakdown by age and gender; and (c) whether the Government will consider mandating eldercare leave for working adults.
The total number of residents who were outside the labour force due to eldercare commitments from 2021 to 2025, together with their age and gender breakdown, is shown in Table 1 below. Among this group, an average of 11.9%, or around 1,500 individuals each year, had left their last job within the preceding year.
In evaluating how best to support working caregivers, the Government considers the effectiveness of measures in meeting diverse caregiving needs in a sustainable manner and will need to strike a balance with employers' operational needs and the employability of caregivers.
Many working caregivers have highlighted that flexible work arrangements (FWAs), are the most useful form of support. We have hence focused on encouraging the adoption of FWAs and other work-life harmony practices to help caregivers manage work and personal responsibilities. This is done through the Tripartite Guidelines on FWA Requests (TG-FWAR) as well as FWA implementation resources and training by tripartite partners and the Institute of Human Resource Professionals.
The Government will continue to review our support schemes for working caregivers.
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