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On the sidelines of the event, Ms Yeo told reporters that the NTUC Women and Family Unit and U SME – the labour movement’s small and medium-sized enterprise arm – plan to help SMEs redesign work for women.<\/p>\n
These efforts include restructuring work hours so that women can manage other responsibilities.<\/p>\n
Another suggestion is for companies to have satellite offices in the heartland so that women can go to work within a 5km radius of their homes, said Ms Yeo, who is the director of NTUC’s Women and Family Unit and U SME.<\/p>\n
“Many women have told me that they would really like to work in an office environment because of distractions at home but they also need to pick up their child when school ends,” she said.<\/p>\n
Women can also reskill themselves to take up roles that are usually male-dominated, such as in the logistics and audio-visual industries, she added. “A lot of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) are actually still hiring. I think we can break through glass ceilings and stereotypes to let women know they can do anything.”<\/p>\n
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In the dialogue session, employers said that women might turn down career progression opportunities so that they can focus on household responsibilities.<\/p>\n
They added that government support is important to push companies to create a more supportive work environment for women. The session was held under the Chatham House rule, which guarantees confidentiality to promote free discussion.<\/p>\n
A participant said: “Generally, in Asia, the expectation is that a women’s place is more in the house, while men are the breadwinners. This mindset takes time to overcome. Some women also have this mindset, so it’s also about changing that so women can be financially independent by joining the workforce and balance work and family.”<\/p>\n
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