I refer to Soon Hao Jing’s letter, “‘Economically inactive’ women do contribute to nation” (14 March 2013) and wish to make a clarification.
The writer presumed that I equate ‘economically inactive’ women as those who “do not contribute to our economy”, which I did not express so in my speech in Parliament. The writer also assumed that “‘inactive’ suggests they are idle, instead of working hard”. This is incorrect.
In my speech, I quoted the statistics as well as the term ‘Economically Inactive’ from the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) “Labour Force in Singapore, 2012”, which was published by MOM on 31 January 2013.
The Ministry of Manpower defines one who is ‘economically inactive’ to be ‘neither working nor looking for a job’. This is the context in which I called for the government and employers to do more to encourage women who choose to work, to stay in or return to the workforce, and at the same time, balance their need to fulfill familial roles.
Help could come in various forms of flexi-work arrangements; longer maternity leave; financial assistance to equip them with employability skills; and more childcare and eldercare facilities so that their loved ones are taken care of while they are at work.
I do understand that there will be women who have reasons to stay at home and look after their families. And I have the utmost respect for women and in fact, men as well, who have obligations as care-givers as they play a very important role in family building. What I am calling for is more help for those who wish to work to be given a chance to do so.
Singapore will continue to experience a tight labour market. To ensure that we can continue to compete globally, we need to strengthen our local workforce and enhance our productivity. This is why the Labour Movement has been reaching out to women and seniors too to encourage and assist them if they wish to stay in or re-join the workforce. We must continue to value them and every worker in this transitional and transformational process.
Ms Mary Liew
Nominated Member of Parliament
