Re-Producing Citizens: Gender, Employment, and Work-Family Balance Policies in Singapore

Abstract

In this article, I explore the effectiveness of state work-family balance policies in shaping individual reproductive decisions in Singapore, the city-state that ranked third in the Global Competitiveness Report 2009 (World Economic Forum, 2009). I draw on in-depth data from interviews with women of childbearing years, as well as data from focus group discussions with women and their peers, spouses, prospective spouses, and parents. Major findings suggest that to be effective, the state's work-family balance policy measures have to recognize citizens' diverse life plans as well as the attendant requests for certain state benefits and workplace rightssuch as expanding the quota for paid maternity and paternity leave, having family leave financed by the government rather than by the employer, protecting individuals from dismissal on the grounds of leave of absence, and guaranteeing Singaporean workers the right to request shorter, flexible working hours. Despite the limitations of nonprobability sampling, this study indicates that individual preference is associated with an individual's educational attainment and ethnicity. Finally, this study concludes that the effectiveness of any work-family balance policy is a function not merely of individual aspirations but also of the perceived consequences of meeting workplace expectations; thus, the current policies are particularly ineffective in addressing the concerns of employees in private firms. Taken together, these findings suggest that the state needs to reconsider the economic production-at-all-cost approach and become more proactive in supporting workers' right to paid employment and family life.

The Role of Women in Food Provision and Food Choice Decision-Making in Singapore: A Case Study

“…Despite these efforts, fertility rates have continued to decline. Findings from a recent study suggest that Singaporean women continue to be concerned about workplace rights with regard to taking leave for child-care reasons (Sun 2009). The past three decades have seen increasing numbers of Singaporean children being cared for by child-care institutions, and “foreign domestic workers” (Teo 2010).…”

Medication adherence in first‐episode psychosis patients in Singapore

“…It also suggested that people were unwilling to include sufferers of schizophrenia in their social circles (Subramaniam et al, ). Given such stigma in our population, it is possible that the Asian breadwinning role of males (Sun, ) discourages them from declaring their illness for fear of being discriminated against in the job selection process. This could lead to difficulties being excused from work to attend appointments regularly, resulting in poor adherence.…”

Shaping and Reshaping Care and Migration in East and Southeast Asia

“…The governments in these places have implemented a series of family supportive, pro-natalist, care policies since the late 1990s (Table 1). Instead of socializing care, these governments have emphasized, and reinforced, the family’s care obligations by subsidizing private care, extending maternity and family care leaves, and flexible working hours for mothers (Teo, this issue; Chan, 2011; Sun, 2010; Wang, 2011; Yeoh and Huan, 2010). Immigration policies too have been reformed to make it easier for families to hire live-in domestics and caregivers.…”