Oral Answer by Ministry of National Development on provision of lactation facilities in new office buildings
Sep 13, 2016
Mr Desmond Choo: To ask the Minister for National Development
(a) whether the Government can help existing office building owners which have used up the permissible gross floor area to look into unused common spaces to install public family rooms; and
(b) how it can further encourage the provision of lactation facilities in new office buildings.
Answer:
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA), through the Accessibility Code, already requires buildings frequented by families to provide family-friendly features.
There are also financial grants from BCA and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), to offset the construction cost of such spaces. BCA’s Accessibility Fund covers up to 40% of construction costs of family-friendly features such as lactation rooms and accessible family washrooms. Specifically for developing lactation facilities, building owners and developers can also tap on MOM’s WorkPro Work-Life Grant which covers 50% of costs, up to a cap of $20,000.
URA and BCA will continue to review and enhance the measures to encourage both workplaces and buildings frequented by families to provide more family-friendly spaces, including lactation facilities and diaper changing areas.