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What happens when you ask 100 men to give their perspective on gender equality?

About

About

Creating innovative and impactful business partnerships with positive impact is part of what SwedCham, as a business community, does to contribute towards a more sustainable future. With innovative partnerships being a specific goal in the global sustainability agenda, we feel we have a duty and an opportunity to show that the business community can be a force for good. 

 

Gender equality is something that the Nordic community is well known for. Sweden, in fact, has a feminist foreign policy. With Singapore celebrating the year of the woman, we thought it would be an excellent opportunity to tap into the conversation taking place on the ground. With the conversation around gender equality being predominantly led by women, we thought it would be interesting to shift away from the perception that Women’s Rights are only a “women’s issue” and decided to hear what men had to say.

We set out to gather over 100 perspectives mainly from men, but also focused on capturing the voices of both, men and women, of all walks of life and multiple generations. With over 100 views on women and gender equality, this project provides a critical mass of insight into how our perceptions around women and gender balance are changing and it’s pretty inspiring. This is what #candid is all about. 

 

It’s even more exciting that the collection of stories mobilised the partners to go even further. Once we got a sense of how gender norms are changing, it was clear that workplaces could collectively take concrete action to make a difference. This is how the #doubleup #paternityleave pledge was born. #Doubleup is a collective commitment by a group of companies to double the paid paternity leave benefits in Singapore together with an open call to the broader business community to join in.

We are incredibly proud to be launching an initiative that will make us more competitive employers. We trust that it will be good for business and make a difference in the lives of families.

Sponsors

Sponsors

The Book

The Book
The Pledge

The Pledge

The business community has an important role to play to make gender equality a reality. We must continue to make strides toward ensuring women are well represented in our organisations, promoted fairly, and not penalised for taking the time they need for the essential task of giving birth. In addition, we must move towards recognising that fathers too have an important role during the early months of a child's life. Parental leave for both mothers and fathers is one of the levers to building a more equal society. 

 

As business leaders, we can make a difference. 

 

We have the choice to intentionally build a corporate culture that does not simply tolerate, but encourages fathers to be there for their baby, to savour the joys and moments of fatherhood. By promoting paternity leave, we can create a ripple effect towards equality. A truly equal workplace will ultimately level the playing field for both men and women, at home and at work. 

 

#DoubleUp

 

With a commitment towards equality and inclusion, we are making a collective pledge to promote gender equality.   

 

Starting 2022, we will extend the prevailing two weeks of paid paternity leave for all male employees in Singapore to four paid weeks. 

 

As business leaders from many different industries, we have a myriad of visions of what our thriving businesses can look like, but we also have a vision of how we, collectively, can contribute to society. 

 

This pledge is also about coming together through business alliances and collective action. That is why this pledge is not only an announcement of our shared vision. It is an invitation to the broader business community to come onboard, to join forces and share solutions that will pave the way.

 

We have a long way to go but every step counts. 

We do not have all the solutions at hand but we can figure it out together. 

 

Let’s come together to make our companies a forward-thinking frontier for business, not just in our operational ambitions but also with our drive to lead the way toward a more equitable society for all.

Inspired by IKEA who took the first steps to offer twice the amount of Singapore’s two-week paternity leave in 2017, the following partners have joined the #doubleup pledge:

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Collectius
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Indeed
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Linxeye
PRecious Communications
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Tigerhall
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Axis
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EDISEN
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EGN
Probi
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SEB
Hexagon
Manheimer Swartling
IKEA
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Volvo
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Join us in the #DoubleUp initiative. Join us in taking this step together!  

Become a signatory.

That's one step closer to achieving gender equality at your workplace!
Our team will contact you shortly.

Media

Media

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In the News

Davos Communications Awards

Candid Wins Gold at 2022 Davos Communications Award 'Best Engage for Change Campaign' Category

ScandAsia

New fathers who work at Swedish firms in Singapore cheer SwedCham #Doubleup Pledge

Zaobao.com

九家瑞典跨国企业承诺 男雇员有薪陪产假增至一个月

The Switzerland Times

9 Swedish multinationals such as H&M and AstraZeneca to double paid paternity leave in Singapore

The Straits Times

9 Swedish firms in S'pore, including H&M and AstraZeneca, to double paid paternity leave to 4 weeks

HRM Asia

Nine businesses in Singapore double paid paternity leave from 2022

CNA

9 Swedish MNCs such as H&M, AstraZeneca to double paid paternity leave in Singapore

PR Awards Asia

Candid Wins Gold Prize in PR Awards Asia Corporate Publication Category

The Straits Times

MPs including those from Workers' Party call for more parental leave

Women Icons Network

#DoubleUp Challenge – Swedish cos in Singapore Offer Four-Week Paternity Leave

The Straits Times (Editorial)

Towards a better balance of roles

ScandAsia

9 Swedish firms join SwedCham pledge for double paid paternity leave for employees in Singapore

Liputan6

9 Perusahaan Swedia di Singapura Bakal Berlakukan Cuti Ayah Selama 4 Minggu

BeritaHarian

9 firma Sweden di S'pura gandakan cuti paterniti kepada empat minggu

PR Awards Asia

Candid Shortlists for PR Awards Asia Corporate Publication Category

RICE

April Note From the Editor: What’s Gender Diversity Without Good HR Practices?

Today Online

9 companies, including AstraZeneca and H&M, to double paid paternity leave to 4 weeks

The Straits Times (Opinion)

Getting fathers more involved in parenting

Nord News

9 Swedish multinational companies such as H&M, AstraZeneca double paid paternity leave in Singapore

GoRiau

Perusahaan di Singapura Akan Terapkan Cuti Ayah 4 Minggu

8world.com

九家瑞典跨国公司明年起增加男员工有薪陪产假

Reeracoen

Doubling paid paternity leave for fathers — Which companies are implementing this and why?

The Straits Times

New dads working in Singapore-based Swedish firms cheer campaign to double paternity leave

TNP

Nine Swedish MNCs in Singapore vow to double paid paternity leave

Svenskar i Världen

Jämställdhetsinitiativ i Singapore ledde till dubblerad pappaledighet

New Zealand Times

9 Swedish multinationals such as H&M and AstraZeneca to double paid paternity leave in Singapore

CNA

IN FOCUS: Child's play? Why many fathers don't take paternity leave and why experts say they should

Awards
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#Candid on gender was proudly created and executed by

for

We thank our partners who supported this award-winning campaign. 

  • elojo360.org for the amazing case video

  • Precious Communications for media outreach support

Credits
Awards
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