Forum: Normalise listing of caregiving roles on CVs
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We often say Singapore is built for families – yet we still expect people to work as if they have no family, and care for their family as if they have no job.
This contradiction sits at the heart of why “mother”, “father” and “caregiver” almost never appear on curricula vitae (CVs), even though these roles shape us more profoundly than most job titles.
People do not omit these roles because they inherently lack value. They omit them because workplaces have long treated caregiving as irrelevant, inconvenient or risky. This shapes what we choose to recognise as “real work”.
The market rewards those who meet KPIs (key performance indicators), not those with responsibilities that come with sacrifice. Yet, caregiving is one of the most complex skill-building opportunities we have.
It requires strategic prioritisation under pressure, stakeholder management, conflict resolution (sometimes with individuals who cannot articulate their needs), emotional intelligence, long-term planning and the ability to function through chronic uncertainty with no “off” switch.
If this were a corporate role, it would be described as a multi-disciplinary executive position with high-stakes decision-making responsibilities.
Caregiving is one of the most important forms of contribution and nation-building. For example, those who look after children are raising, supporting and sustaining the very people Singapore will rely on as workers, caregivers and leaders of the next generation.
Recognising the value of caregiving will strengthen Singapore in many practical ways. It would help people balance work and family without fear of penalty, encourage more Singaporeans to start families or have more children, reduce strain on caregivers, improve workplace retention and build a more empathetic, resilient workforce.
Singapore’s Workplace Fairness Act already prohibits discrimination based on caregiving responsibilities. The natural next step is to normalise listing caregiving roles on CVs – and to treat them as legitimate experiences, not liabilities.
If we want a family-friendly nation, we must ensure people never feel they have to hide the very roles that strengthen our social fabric and build our future.
Simran Toor
