Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) how many preschools currently offer extended care services beyond 7pm on weekdays and whether this number has increased compared to five years ago; and (b) what specific alternative care arrangements are available for parents who do not have flexible work arrangements, live-in domestic helpers or familial support to pick up their children by 7pm.
1 To cater to the needs of working parents, preschools providing full day services are required to operate from 7am to 7pm on weekdays. Preschools have the flexibility to extend their services beyond the standard operating hours, based on factors such as parental demand and the availability of resources, such as manpower. Today, around 20 preschools operate beyond 7pm on weekdays. This is a decrease from 40 preschools in 2021.
2 We recognise the challenges that parents face in balancing their caregiving and work commitments. For parents who require additional caregiving support outside of the standard preschool operating hours, there are alternative options available. These include paid and community-based options, such as babysitting services.
3 To support parents in accessing flexible work arrangements, or FWA, the Government has worked closely with tripartite partners to encourage employers to provide a family-friendly work environment. This includes the launch of the Tripartite Guidelines on FWA requests in 2024. The Guidelines set out the process for employees to formally request for FWAs, and employers to consider them, and aim to better support working parents in their caregiving needs.