Take-up Rates in Civil Service for Family-friendly Benefits and Schemes

Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Prime Minister (a) for statutory boards and Ministries, what is the respective range of take-up rates for (i) part-time employment scheme by Division 1 and non-Division 1 officers; (ii) childcare leave of six days per year for parents with children aged six and below and the extended childcare leave of two days per year for children aged seven to 12; (iii) paternity leave; and (b) for each of these indicators, which are the top and bottom five Statutory Boards and Ministries respectively.

Mr Teo Chee Hean (for the Prime Minister): The Public Service supports the needs of our officers. We provide leave benefits and offer flexible work arrangements like part-time employment. In 2013, 1,488 (1.7%) Division 1 officers and 318 (0.6%) non-Division 1 officers were on part-time employment. Seventy-two percent of eligible public officers used the six-day childcare leave and 48% of eligible public officers used the two-day extended childcare leave. Seventy-eight percent of eligible public officers used their paternity leave. It is not meaningful to compare part-time employment and the leave take-up rate across Ministries and Statutory Boards, given their diverse work nature and employee profile.