Addressing Needs of Workers who Care for Elderly Parents and Young Children and Proposal for "Sandwich Generation Leave"

Debated in Parliament on 4 Nov 2025.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Ms. Valerie Lee inquired about studies assessing the needs of workers caring for both elderly parents and young children, and proposed a "Sandwich Generation Leave" for such families.
Minister Tan See Leng responded that while the government conducts studies on caregivers, they do not specifically focus on those balancing care for both young children and elderly parents.
He noted the impracticality of introducing multiple leave types for diverse caregiving needs but mentioned enhancements to parental leave and voluntary caregiving leave by some employers.
The government has also introduced guidelines to facilitate flexible work arrangements to help working caregivers manage their responsibilities.

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Valerie Lee

Ms Valerie Lee asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether focus studies have been done to assess the specific needs of workers who care for elderly parents and young children; (b) if so, what were the outcomes of such studies; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider a distinct "Sandwich Generation Leave" to take into account families with more than one child and/or have elderly parents to tend to.

Tan See Leng

The Government commissions several studies that collect data on caregivers, including the Quality of Life Study and the National Population Health Survey. These studies cover caregivers in general, and do not specifically look at working sandwiched caregivers who care for both elderly parents and young children.

Given the diversity of caregiving needs, it is impractical to introduce various leave types to cater to every need. However, the Government has been progressively enhancing parental leave provisions over the years to support parents in caring for young children. Some employers have also voluntarily provided additional caregiving leave.

We have also implemented the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests to help employers and employees to navigate discussions about flexible work arrangements and arrive at mutually beneficial arrangements. This can help working caregivers to manage work and caregiving responsibilities.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Ms. Valerie Lee inquired about studies assessing the needs of workers caring for both elderly parents and young children, and proposed a "Sandwich Generation Leave" for such families.
Minister Tan See Leng responded that while the government conducts studies on caregivers, they do not specifically focus on those balancing care for both young children and elderly parents.
He noted the impracticality of introducing multiple leave types for diverse caregiving needs but mentioned enhancements to parental leave and voluntary caregiving leave by some employers.
The government has also introduced guidelines to facilitate flexible work arrangements to help working caregivers manage their responsibilities.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Addressing Needs of Workers who Care for Elderly Parents and Young Children and Proposal for "Sandwich Generation Leave" | PAPERCUTS

Addressing Needs of Workers who Care for Elderly Parents and Young Children and Proposal for "Sandwich Generation Leave"

Debated in Parliament on 4 Nov 2025.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Ms. Valerie Lee inquired about studies assessing the needs of workers caring for both elderly parents and young children, and proposed a "Sandwich Generation Leave" for such families.
Minister Tan See Leng responded that while the government conducts studies on caregivers, they do not specifically focus on those balancing care for both young children and elderly parents.
He noted the impracticality of introducing multiple leave types for diverse caregiving needs but mentioned enhancements to parental leave and voluntary caregiving leave by some employers.
The government has also introduced guidelines to facilitate flexible work arrangements to help working caregivers manage their responsibilities.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Valerie Lee

Tan See Leng

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Ms. Valerie Lee inquired about studies assessing the needs of workers caring for both elderly parents and young children, and proposed a "Sandwich Generation Leave" for such families.
Minister Tan See Leng responded that while the government conducts studies on caregivers, they do not specifically focus on those balancing care for both young children and elderly parents.
He noted the impracticality of introducing multiple leave types for diverse caregiving needs but mentioned enhancements to parental leave and voluntary caregiving leave by some employers.
The government has also introduced guidelines to facilitate flexible work arrangements to help working caregivers manage their responsibilities.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Addressing Needs of Workers who Care for Elderly Parents and Young Children and Proposal for "Sandwich Generation Leave"

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Valerie Lee

Tan See Leng

Summary

Questions Identified

Addressing Needs of Workers who Care for Elderly Parents and Young Children and Proposal for "Sandwich Generation Leave"

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Valerie Lee

Tan See Leng

Summary

Questions Identified