Singapore - Govt support, changing attitudes help women manage family & career

SINGAPORE: Women in the field of science and medicine face long and irregular work hours, and this tends to become a challenge once they start a family.

But Minister of State for Finance and Transport Josephine Teo has said the situation is changing.

With government support and changing attitudes from spouses and employers, it is still possible for women to manage families and careers successfully.

Speaking on Monday at a dialogue session on Women in Science and Medicine, hosted by the National University of Singapore, she said the government is committed to uplifting pre-school quality and keeping it affordable.

She said that at the same time, the introduction of paternity leave will facilitate greater sharing of responsibility between parents.

She added that more employers are also willing to promote flexible arrangements.

The dialogue saw women clinicians and scientists address how challenges in achieving work-life balance could lead to gradual loss of talent from the fields of science and medicine.

Many attributed their success to having a strong support system, good mentors, knowing when to make sacrifices and most importantly, being given flexible work options.

Professor Ivy Ng, group chief executive officer of SingHealth, said: "When my children were young, there weren't so many opportunities for flexi-work arrangements so I had to work full-time. But I did take six months off after my third child.

"In science and medicine, it is hard to take extended periods of time off because the advances are so quick that you lose touch very quickly."

Professor Saw Seang Mei from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore, said: "Being a research scientist is competitive. We are competing internationally to be one of the best in the world. But it does provide opportunities, for example, we can work from home. We can write papers from home and write grants from home."

- CNA/ms

Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Healthcare and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN. Since we are currently changing the platform of www.yourvietnamexpert.com, you may contact us at: sbc.pte@gmail.com, provisionally. Many thanks.