29 Jan 2010
Signifying the symbiotic relationship between NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat (WDS) and PAP Women’s Wing (PAPWW), about 100 participants from NTUC and PAPWW as well as professional women groups came together to kickstart the year by taking stock of socioeconomic issues including women’s employment and employability, work-life balance, and surviving the economic crisis.
The joint dialogue session provided an opportunity for women activists and women leaders to share their experiences, voice their concerns and raise suggestions, especially in the areas of employment and family/social support for women.
The dialogue session was preceded by four concurrent breakout sessions where group participants discussed four areas specifically: Surviving the crisis, Work-life balance, Challenges of the sandwiched class, and Impact of globalisation on women. Each group presented their discussions and recommendations to the dialogue panel, chaired by Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Minister, Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Transport.
Survey on Impact of Economic Downturn on Women
At this event, WDS also revealed its findings on an informal survey on the impact of the recent economic downturn on women, especially in the areas of the employment and family life. The survey targeted 300 married female employees, and was carried out in January 2010. See Annex A for full results.
The survey found:
According to NTUC Deputy Secretary-General, Mdm Halimah Yacob, who is also the Director of WDS, the survey provided a snapshot of the impact of the crisis on women in Singapore. She said, “We wanted to hear from the women themselves how they are coping also because we know that in many families, household expenditures such as food and child-rearing expenses are managed by women. So, any impact on the women could also affect the well being of the children.
“According to various IMF, World Bank and ILO studies, the financial crisis had gender specific impacts. More women were thrown out of jobs, their household income dropped and the impacts were severe as children were pulled out of school, families had to cut back on essential food stuff and stopped seeking medical treatment.”
Overall, the survey results from WDS’ survey were positive as the impact on women and their children in Singapore seem to be less severe compared to the developing countries. Despite the higher level of stress, which is to be expected because of the uncertainties brought about by the downturn, they seem to cope well as they could still find time for the family and could still pursue other personal commitments after work.
Although 44% of the respondents indicated that they had experienced some income instability, the important point to note is that 67% highlighted that when they had to cut back on their expenditure these were in non essential areas such as eating out, and cutting down on leisure or travel activities, and not on their daily food intake or on medical treatment. This also shows that Singapore’s strategy of helping companies to cut costs and save jobs as well as other measures to support families have helped mitigate the impact of the downturn on families.
In the area of women’s employment and employability, WDS has helped 5,300 under the Back2Work with U Programme since late 2007. These efforts include enhancing the employment opportunities for women job seekers as well as ensuring they have employable skills.
Reaching out to women groups through refreshed website
The PAP Women’s Wing also relaunched their website (http://womenswing.pap.org.sg/). The new website reflects the Women’s Wing’s continuous commitment to engage and reach out to the different women groups. These include women activists from all 84 Branches who tireless provide support on the ground, professional women of all sectors and industries, young women leaders, and women from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The redesigned website also embodies the Women’s Wing mission to encourage women’s greater involvement in the community by facilitating their input and participation in policy-making through the distinct sections dedicated to the different women groups.
Through the podcast clips, visitors to the revamped website can now listen in to the lively conversations and exchanges between the women MPs and their constituency residents as well as members from the various professional women groups.
Annex A
NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat (WDS) - Survey on Impact of Economic Downturn on Women
Purpose
To find out the impact of the recent economic downturn on working women, and how women are coping, especially in the areas of the employment and family life
Target Group
300 married female employees
Key Findings
1)How women were most affected at work with the economic downturn
(a) 15% faced some difficulties when applying for leave and/or other benefits
(b) 14% suffered a pay cut
(c) 11% had to work overtime because of the manpower cut due to retrenchment
(d) 10% had to work longer hours without overtime pay for fear of losing their jobs
(e) 43% were not affected at all
(2) Stress level faced by women at work with the economic downturn
(a) 57% faced a higher level of stress at work but they found it to be still manageable
(b) 10% faced extreme stress at work during the downturn
(c) 33% did not face any additional stress at work
(3) Availability of a well-balanced worklife during the economic downturn
(a) 27% had to give up more of their personal and/or family time for work purposes
(b) 13% indicated that most of their time was taken up by work
(c) However, 58% indicated that they had sufficient time for their families and could still pursue their personal commitments even after working hours
(4) Level of family income during the economic downturn
a) 56% indicated that their family income was quite stable
(b) 34% experienced a reduction in family income due to a pay cut from either one or both breadwinners
(c) 5% indicated that their spouses were retrenched from their jobs
(5) Family’s lifestyle/spending habits during the downturn
(a) 67% tried to cut expenditure by eating out less and cutting down on leisure/travel activities
(b)32% indicated that their lifestyle and spending habits remained pretty much the same
