Debated in Parliament on 12 Feb 2015.
Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Ministry will consider extending full childcare and kindergarten subsidies to children of mothers who are not working full-time.
All parents of Singaporean children, regardless of their working status, are eligible for basic childcare subsidies. Depending on their household income, they may also qualify for kindergarten fee assistance. Other forms of support, such as the Baby Bonus cash gift and child development account matched savings, are also available to help parents defray the cost of raising children. As working mothers require greater support, we provide them added assistance in the form of additional childcare subsidies.
We recognise that some mothers who are not working full-time may have a great need for childcare services for various reasons. These may include long-term illness, disability or other extenuating family circumstances. For such cases, we exercise flexibility and consider their circumstances on a case-by-case basis for higher childcare subsidies. In 2014, 190 non-working mothers were granted additional childcare subsidies.
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