Support for Nurses Undertaking Caregiving for their Families

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1378

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

NOTICE FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 3 OCTOBER 2022

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Dr Tan Yia Swam

Nominated MP

Question No. 2154

To ask the Minister for Health (a) how does the Ministry support local nurses in undertaking caregiving for their families; and (b) how does the Ministry support foreign nurses who may have dependants that they need to provide caregiving for.

Answer

In line with the Employment Act and Child Development Co-Savings Act, local and foreign nurses working in public and private healthcare institutions in Singapore are entitled to various types of leave, including annual leave, maternity leave, and childcare leave. Further, the Child Development Co-Savings Act provides paternity leave, and unpaid infant care leave if the child is a Singapore citizen.

There is also support that is extended to all staff, including foreign nurses. To support staff with care responsibilities, public healthcare institutions and some private sector employers also offer family care leave and flexible work arrangements (FWAs) such as staggered hours, compressed work week and flexi-load, subject to the organisation’s requirements. There are also childcare centres located on-site in certain hospitals for the staff to enroll their children while at work.