AWARE calls for paternity leave to be mandated by law
The Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) has called for paternity leave to be mandated by law. This is backed by findings from a survey it commissioned, involving more than 1000 parents with children aged seven years old and below.
Nine in 10 respondents said they wanted paternity leave to be made compulsory. AWARE said such a move would provide a more supportive environment for Singaporeans to have babies and help reverse the country’s declining birth rate.
Ms Carolyn Lim, a mother of two who recently separated from her husband, said when she and her ex-husband were still together, he took a month of unpaid leave after each child was born. “It helps with the bonding process, between the father and the child,” Ms Lim said.
Getting more fathers to be involved in parenting is something that AWARE wants to encourage further. It said it is time for legislation to kick in, judging from the survey’s results.
I have to commend Singapore on being so progressive! Paid paternity leave is a great idea for Countries that can afford it. Americans will be lucky if tax-paying senior citizens receive their social security benefits going forward.