Minister cites improvement in quality of employment for women
Singapore has made significant strides in improving the quality of employment for women, said Minister for Manpower Lim Swee Say at the G20 Labour and Employment Ministerial Meeting in Germany last week.
Over the past decade there has been a consistent increase in the employment rate of women aged 25-64 from 63% to 72%, according to the minister’s figures. The median salary for women has also risen over 5% – the same rate reported for men.
“Women should be able to live fulfilling lives without having to choose between their career and their family because both are important,” said Minister Lim Swee Say in a speech delivered at the meeting.
Nevertheless, he believes that more can be done since a considerable gender wage gap of 10.3% was still recorded in 2016. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is looking to build on its progress by increasing the employment rate further.
“Our challenge is to help more women stay in work, especially the mothers. At the same time, for those who have left, to help them to return to work,” said Lim.
To address the problems faced by working mothers, MOM declared an intention to have more employers and employees adopt flexible work arrangements, such as part-time work schedules and job sharing. There are also measures being taken to enhance the skillset and adaptability of women, especially those who have taken a hiatus from their careers to focus on family.
The ministry is looking to emphasise fair treatment in the workplace by requiring employers to appraise workers based on performance and output, regardless of the work arrangement they follow. MOM’s social partners have been advocating this measure through advisories and guidelines.
“Overall, we have come some way in helping Singapore women to better manage their family responsibilities, work aspirations and personal needs. However, there is much more we can do to support Singapore women, from their husbands, to employers, government and the community,” said Lim. “Our commitment is to grow the community of progressive employers to engender an even more supportive and conducive workplace for Singapore women.”
