SGXander Ong, a father of two and CEO of the Centre for Fathering, discusses his experience with parental leave and the challenges fathers face in balancing work and family life. Despite having 10 weeks of paid leave after his second child’s birth, he found it difficult to fully disconnect from work, highlighting the emotional and professional pressures involved. He notes that while paternity leave has become legally mandated in Singapore since April 2025, many fathers still do not take it due to personal, practical, and workplace-related barriers. The Ministry of Social and Family Development reports that 61% of fathers took government-paid paternity leave in 2024, up from 47% in 2016, but nearly 40% still opt out. Ong emphasizes the need for greater workplace support and cultural change to encourage fathers to engage more actively in caregiving roles.
Bias read (Center): While the article addresses issues related to workplace policies and family leave, which could be seen as politically charged, the framing remains balanced. It presents both the personal experiences of fathers and broader societal data without overtly favoring any particular political ideology. The
