SMEs: Manpower shortage; Parent-care leave implementation challenging

The government announced recently that from next year onwards, 76,000 civil servants will be eligible for two days of parent-care leave. SMU gives its staff up to six days of Eldercare leave for them to take care of their parents. Corporate Marketing Head Benny Toh is the only child in his family and the responsibilities of taking care of his father, who is ill with kidney failure, high blood pressure, diabetes and other heart problems, rests on his shoulders alone. “It helps to have these extra few days to accompany him for checkups, reviews and also dialysis.”