Committee of Supply – Head I (Ministry of Social and Family Development)

Preschool education in Singapore is recognised as a crucial stage in a child's development, preparing them for formal schooling and lifelong learning. The Government has been actively working to enhance the preschool sector through ECDA, which oversees the quality and accessibility of preschool services. Initiatives like the Anchor Operator Scheme and Partner Operator Scheme have been introduced to increase the number of quality preschool places and make them more affordable.

Despite these efforts, the challenge remains to balance affordability with maintaining high standards of care and education across all preschools to support child development and assist working parents. How will the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) further improve the affordability and quality of preschool for all families in Singapore?

In Singapore, the Government recognises the fundamental role of families and aims to create a supportive environment for them. This involves implementing policies and initiatives that encourage strong family bonds, such as work-life harmony, flexible work arrangements requests and inclusivity within the community. MSF has come a long way in enhancing family services, promoting family-friendly workplaces and ensuring that all members of society, including the less privileged and those with special needs, feel included and supported.

These efforts are part of a broader strategy to maintain a cohesive and resilient society. How will the MSF further build and foster a family-friendly and inclusive Singapore? Will the MSF be further engaging with whole-of-society stakeholders, such as employers and the trade unions to provide more marriage and parenting resources for families?

Sir, family caregivers provide unpaid care, often at great personal costs. Many sacrifice their careers, drain their savings and push through exhaustion, and sometimes even abuse, to care for their loved ones, often at the expense of their own well-being. Without them, the healthcare burden on the state will be far greater.

The total value of informal care for seniors aged 75 and above is estimated at $1.28 billion annually, equivalent to 11% of Government healthcare expenditure, according to a study by researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School. I appreciate that the Home Caregiving Grant is being increased to up to $600 per month. However, the current system still assumes that caregiving is a private responsibility, with the Government only coming in to provide relief.

We need a fundamental shift in recognising family caregiving as essential work that deserves proper compensation, not just relief. Caregiving should be a shared responsibility between individuals, family and society, with its costs partially socialised, rather than falling mainly on caregivers.

To put this into action, I propose a tiered caregiver payment for those who reduce their work hours or leave employment to care for a family member, provided they meet the minimum caregiving threshold. They should also receive Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions to safeguard their long-term financial security.

Caregiving should be recognised as skilled work. A national certification framework should be introduced to provide formal training and better employment opportunities for caregivers, especially after they return to the workforce. Caregivers are the backbone of our long-term care system.

If we truly value their contributions, we must compensate them fairly. This is not just about doing more, but doing things differently to prepare Singapore for an ageing society.

Thank you, Sir. Building a family-friendly Singapore requires a multifaceted approach that places a strong emphasis on education, inclusivity and support for diverse family structures.

Recognising that families comes in many forms, it is essential to create an environment where every family feels valued and supported. In this context, how is the Ministry addressing the evolving definition of families to ensure policies and programmes are inclusive of diverse family structure in Singapore?

How does the Ministry plan to engage with parents, educators and community leaders to reinforce the value of family bonds and relationships among children and teenagers?

What resources and support systems are available for children from non-traditional family backgrounds, to ensure they feel included and valued within the broader community?

And what measures are being taken to support fathers in playing their role effectively within the family and how is the Ministry encouraging paternal involvement in child-rearing and family activities?

Effective support for vulnerable and disadvantaged families and individuals living with multiple and complex needs requires a targeted, coordinated, holistic and multi-agency and personalised response.

At the same time, it is also important to address the root causes of vulnerability and disadvantage, such as poverty, mental health issues, underemployment, violence and access to housing and education.

In this context, what are the Ministry's plans for improving the delivery of services and programmes in the social service sector, to better support vulnerable and disadvantaged families and individuals living with multiple and complex needs? What initiatives are in place to assist women who have experienced violence, including those with children, access safe accommodation and other resources, and to return to the workforce?

What initiatives are in place to provide culturally appropriate and sensitive support and assistance, to vulnerable and disadvantaged families and individuals living with multiple and complex needs? How is the Ministry working to improve the short-, medium- and long-term outcomes for children in care and those with child protection system, and what strategies are in place to ensure that these children have access to timely, stable, long-term and fully supported out of home placements.

In my Budget speech three years ago, I shared about how social workers were overworked and many were burnt out. I said: "Being a social worker is not easy. It is like riding a bike, except the bike is on fire. You're on fire. Everything is on fire."

Three years on, and social workers continue to share with me about their crazy workloads and how not much has changed. I tried to have lunch with a social worker and for the entire hour, he was outside the restaurant trying to help a client's family over the phone. In the end, he packed his lunch, and I doubt he had time to eat it later on.

The reality is that social workers are passionate about helping others, but they, too, need help. They need MSF to help them do a deep review of the funding model of the family service centres, provide more funding for headcount and introduce a cap on the number of cases a social worker can handle.

Over the past 10 years in Nee Soon East, I have seen so many children's lives get destroyed. For me, that has been the most painful part of being a Member of Parliament – to see children get neglected, abused, raped; children whom I have seen grow up over the years.

In these cases, the Child Protective Services step in and I am grateful for the work of our Child Protection officers (CPOs).

Our CPOs handle about 40 cases at any point in time. As Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua shared: "I also think that 40 is a little bit too high. We are trying to bring the number for the caseload down." CPOs are superheroes but they have a limit, and I know many are way past that limit.

I hope MSF will help our CPOs and ensure that there is a cap on the number of cases each CPO can handle. I hope MSF can also share their plans on how they will increase the manpower and resources at the Child Protective Services.

Sir, cost of living pressures have been a concern for Singaporeans for the past year. With Budget 2025, I hope that the measures will bring needed relief to most Singaporeans.

I have been more concerned about the impact of higher cost on our lower-income Singaporeans in the past year. During my visits to residents living in rental blocks in Jalan Kayu, who are receiving MSF ComCare assistance, I sometimes see them having mostly instant noodles and highly processed, preserved canned food.

They tell me that they are trying to stretch the ComCare dollar. While I try my best with donors to augment the Government's ComCare with local welfare projects at the Jalan Kayu Heartstrings, which provides groceries and food items that are as healthy as possible, such ground-up support is subject to donation and in-kind sponsorship that we can garner each time.

Can I ask MSF if: one, will MSF consider adding a layer of ComCare in-kind assistance to provide a monthly supply of healthy food items curated with MOH's Health Promotion Board (HPB)? HPB has been active in their "My Healthy Plate" outreach, with a collection of easy-to-cook healthy recipes for residents of all races. Can MSF and MOH collaborate to enable healthier food for our lower-income Singaporeans on ComCare?

Two, does MSF track, with MOH, the chronic diseases prevalence and severity of this group? Again, can MSF and MOH collaborate on upstream preventive measures to avoid this group of vulnerable Singaporeans from developing serious chronic diseases that will not only plague their already difficult lives to further downward spiral, but also cause heavy downstream burdens to our healthcare system.

Mr Chairman, the ComLink+ scheme, introduced in 2023, pairs vulnerable families with dedicated family coaches and volunteer befrienders who will journey with the families in achieving stability, self-reliance and social mobility. Can MSF provide an update on the progress and effectiveness of the ComLink+ scheme?

While ComLink+ provides financial assistance, there remains a lack of comprehensive services covering mental health, career counselling and social integration. Are there plans by MSF to introduce partnerships with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the private sector to provide skill development workshops, mental health resources and counselling services tailored to the needs of the ComLink+ families?

Sir, short-term assistance may not lead to long-term financial stability, and families may struggle with financial management. Can MSF work with relevant service providers to develop tailored financial literacy programmes to help the families make informed decisions about budgeting, saving and investing?

I also invite MSF to collaborate with the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC's) Employment and Employability Institute to implement programmes that include pathways to employment, skills enhancement and career advancement to provide these families with a sustainable means of income over time.

According to the Supporting Lower-Income Households trends report released by MSF in November 2024, only 26% of families on the ComLink+ scheme send their children to preschool regularly. What is MSF's plan to improve the preschool participation rate for these families?

For children in primary and secondary schools, can MSF collaborate with the schools to provide academic support such as tutoring, mentorship programmes and enrichment classes to ensure that children from ComLink+ families have equal opportunities for success?

Some families may also lack access to technology resources that can facilitate learning and application processes. I would like to ask if ComLink+ families, in particular, the children, are provided access to digital literacy training and resources as well as subsidised devices and Internet access?

ComLink+ is a whole-of-society effort led by the Government but implemented in partnership with the community. I hope that we can continue to expand the ComLink+ ecosystem to better support lower-income families in their efforts towards building a better future for themselves.

Chairman, for any advanced economy, keeping social mobility alive is a key challenge. Fighting what we call sticky floors and sticky ceilings, and breaking not just the chain of transmission of disadvantages for those at the bottom, but also the transmission of advantages for those at the top, from generation to generation, is tough and is an uphill battle.

I am glad that in Singapore, we have a government that is determined to keep social mobility alive and keep social mobility an integral part of the Singapore Story going forward.

We will need to mitigate unequal opportunities at birth, indeed, before birth, and through life. It will take dealing with the hand that folks are dealt by life. It is complex work.

This is why ComLink+ is so important – focusing on families in rental housing, getting them to send their children to preschool, stay in good jobs and build savings, and rewarding them with financial support for such positive behaviours, ultimately, helping to equalise opportunities for their children, and getting coaches and volunteers to journey with them. It is important work.

If ComCare is assistance to meet today's needs, ComLink+ is empowerment to build tomorrow. If ComCare is a safety net provided by the state, ComLink+ is a new trampoline, formed not just by the state but by all of us. It involves all of us.

To keep social mobility alive, we need ComLink+ to work. On that note, can the Ministry provide an update on the progress and achievements of ComLink+, including the rollout of ComLink+ Progress packages?

Chairman, the ComLink+ Progress packages aim to support the efforts of eligible lower-income families with young children to help them achieve stability, self-reliance and social mobility. The packages focus on the four areas of preschool education, stable employment, improving financial stability through debt clearance and saving for home ownership.

The package on preschool education was launched in August last year. Would the Ministry share an update on the response to date?

MSF announced that it was working towards launching the other three packages for employment, financial stability and saving for home ownership from this year, 2025. Can the Ministry provide more details and the timelines for each package?

Overall, how many families have actually benefited from the ComLink+ Progress packages? What is the average number of families that a family coach handles? Has the Ministry been able to recruit its target number of family coaches so far?

Chairman, while Singapore has established strong social safety nets to support vulnerable individuals and families, some low-income households continue to face complex and interlocking challenges in achieving stability, self-reliance and social mobility. Beyond financial assistance, there is a need for a more personalised, empowering approach that helps families take proactive steps towards a better future.

Could MSF share insights on how the ComLink+ ecosystem will better support lower-income families in their journey towards improved life outcomes? Additionally, what measures are being considered to further empower low-income households in pursuing long-term aspirations for themselves and their children?

Chairman, I thank our Prime Minister for signalling his support to look into the needs of persons with disabilities (PwDs), especially after formal schooling.

Why does the community especially families, feel such despair, especially post-age 18? The answer lies in the lack of continuity in support systems – what is often termed as the "cliff effect" in the disability sector. Families are left to navigate a fragmented landscape. So, how can we shift families from a place of helplessness to a place of hope?

The solution lies in creating a continuum of support models across living, learning and working – three key pillars of life.

I am pleased that the Ministry has introduced three key initiatives: the Enabling Services Hub, the Enabling Business Hub and the Enabled Living Programme. These programmes aim to make community, employment and living support more accessible to PwDs.

Both the Enabling Services Hub and the Enabling Business Hub have been operational for some time. I urge the MSF to provide some updates on their current status, achievements, challenges and future plans. I also seek MSF to share the progress of the Enabled Living Programme.

Next, the truth is that the needs of adults with disabilities are diverse. Some require intensive round-the-clock care while others need much less support to build independent living skills. This diversity therefore calls for a continuum of support models tailored to individual needs.

On living, one of the most pressing gaps is the lack of long-term residential options for adults with disabilities.

While I applaud MSF's openness to exploring an Enabled Living Programme for those with mild to moderate needs, we must move beyond programme-centric approaches. Instead, we need a spectrum of residential models to suit different archetypes.

On learning, on the learning front, the situation is also equally urgent. When asked about continuing education for PwDs yesterday, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has indicated that MSF and SG Enable will take the lead, citing the diverse and complex needs of this population. While this is understandable, the reality is that many Government-funded Special Education (SPED) students stop learning altogether after leaving school, largely due to that proverbial "cliff effect".

This abrupt decline in structured training opportunities leads to skill loss, reduced independence and increased burdens on families and society. The problem is compounded in a world where technology is rapidly disrupting all our lives. Lifelong learning, therefore, is not a luxury, but a necessity.

I urge the Government to commission a comprehensive study to address this "cliff effect" and consider adopting a top-up funding model for adult learners with special educational needs, closer to the support that they receive pre-age 18. Additionally, I propose the establishment of lifelong learning colleges for major disability groups, partnering with social service agencies that have a proven track record in this space.

On work, why work matters. Work provides dignity, identity, financial independence and purpose. With proper training and support, PwDs can contribute meaningfully to workplaces and society.

Sir, I wish to propose five actions for the Ministry to promote inclusive employment.

One, prioritise reasonable accommodations at work. During the recent Workplace Fairness Bill discussion, I proposed the creation of a job accommodation network – a resource to guide employers in implementing reasonable accommodations and to empower PwDs themselves with self-advocacy skills. This would help them balance their needs with employers' business constraints.

While MOM may have other priorities, I really urge the Ministry to work with its partners to take the lead on this initiative.

Two, extend job placement and job support for PwDs. The current Job Placement and Job Support Programme provides support for only one year. This is not sufficient as PwDs often require long-term assistance to navigate workplace challenges. Stopping support after one year is akin to removing eyeglasses from someone with myopia, leaving them unable to see clearly. Some of these groups really need longer support.

Three, develop a SkillsFuture masterplan for PwDs. In a rapidly changing job market, relevance is key. Jobs that exist today may disappear tomorrow and PwDs must be equipped with the skills to adapt.

Sir, I urge the Government, its Job Placement and Job Support Programme partners and industry leaders to develop a SkillsFuture masterplan for PwDs – a robust framework to help them upskill, reskill and remain competitive.

Four, include sheltered workshops as part of a continuum of employment models. Sheltered workshops hold strong potential as a viable employment model. It is actually less costly than the Day Activity Centres and it offers a more focused and purposeful alternative to Day Activity Centres, which can be costly and lack an emphasis on work. So, more sheltered workshops should be established.

The Ministry should also clarify and communicate the continuum of employment models available to PwDs, their families and other stakeholders so as to enable them to make informed decisions about the most suitable employment model.

Lastly, expand beyond the School-To-Work scheme. While the School-To-Work scheme by MOE for recent SPED school graduates is a good initiative, the earliest SPED graduates and mainstream graduates with special educational needs are often overlooked. I urge the Government to allocate resources to address that gap and ensure that no one is excluded.

Finally, I just want to thank MSF, all its agencies and all its partners as well for their good work. The "cliff effect" is not inevitable. I look forward to serving with you to support the disability community.

An inclusive society ensures that every individual, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully.

Employment is more than just an earning. It is about dignity, independence and social integration. Yet many persons with disabilities in Singapore continue to face significant barriers to securing jobs.

The Enabling Masterplan sets an ambitious and necessary target – a 40% employment rate for PwDs by 2030, for which I am very, very grateful. Achieving this requires more than goodwill. It demands concrete action to remove barriers, equip individuals and foster inclusive workplace cultures. This is more than a social issue. It is also an economic imperative. Unlocking our workforce's full potential drives growth for businesses, strengthens communities and fuels national progress.

With just five years remaining, what is MSF's strategy to accelerate inclusive employment and ensure that opportunities for PwDs are not just available, but actively created to meet this goal?

Thank you, Chairman. Sir, we have made much progress over the years in raising disability awareness and increasing the workplace participation of persons with disabilities. Coming from the private sector, I have witnessed first-hand the collective will and efforts of the Government, MSF, SG Enable, social service agencies and enterprises, commercial or otherwise, all working together to advance inclusive hiring.

For this, I am thankful – to see our shared commitment to the cause translating bit by bit into meaningful opportunities for persons with disabilities.

With five years left to meet the Enabling Masterplan 2030 target of 40% employment, can MSF share its plans to bring to life strategies that encourage and accelerate inclusive hiring?

Persons with disabilities and their caregivers have long-term aspirations, just like anyone else. They want to actively participate in shared spaces, secure meaningful employment and live independently within the community. We have come a long way in providing more pathways for persons with disabilities to thrive. Yet, there is always more that can be done.

I had previously called for more support in the post-18 space and I am delighted to hear it specifically highlighted in the Budget by the Prime Minister. Now that we are debating in the Committee of Supply (COS), can MSF share more about how it plans to strengthen support structures for persons with disabilities as they transition from school to work?

In doing so, we also need to recognise the crucial role that caregivers play. They are the unseen pillar of strength, often putting their needs and dreams on hold to care for their loved ones. I am very glad that the update to the Home Caregiving Grant, as announced in the Budget Statement, will extend financial support to more caregivers and affirm their contributions. While this is highly appreciated, caregivers also face emotional strain, physical exhaustion and the challenge of looking after their own well-being. Building on this, can MSF also share its plans to further support caregivers beyond financial assistance?

Last year, I spoke about recalibrating our means-testing criteria for disability schemes, at the MSF COS. Reading this year's Budget annexes, I understand that the means-testing criteria will be revised for the better.

In particular, the monthly per capita household income (PCHI) threshold for long-term care subsidies and grants are set to be increased to a standardised level of $4,800 from 2026. Examples include the Assistive Technology Fund, the Enabling Transport Subsidy and Taxi Subsidy Scheme, just to name a few.

According to Singapore Departmant of Statistics, median monthly PCHI has increased from $3,500 in 2023 to around $3,600 in 2024. I have previously suggested that the threshold should at least align with the current median PCHI figures. Assuming that median PCHI grows steadily, the harmonised threshold of $4,800 should exceed that level. I am pleased to see this update go beyond my initial suggestion to broaden access to support schemes. I urge MSF to continually review the PCHI threshold at timely intervals to ensure that it keeps pace with median PCHI levels as they rise.

Following this progress, I would like to reiterate my call from last year that we also take into account actual costs borne by families with PwDs. Financial support schemes should reflect the real and often higher costs that these families face. By doing so, we empower more persons with disabilities to live with dignity and achieve their dreams.

Chair, we need to better support working adults who are neurodivergent. Over the years we have made progress in increasing support for neurodivergent students through special educational needs officers and school counsellors. Neurodivergent conditions such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia last a lifetime. Yet, beyond school, existing policies and programmes cater only to autistic individuals, mainly those with high support needs.

A large proportion of neurodivergent adults are left to navigate life's challenges without institutional support when they enter the workforce. This is especially true for those with conditions such as ADHD and dyslexia, which are invisible and not formally recognised as disabilities in Singapore. Neurodivergent working adults face unique challenges. They may struggle with organisation, executive function, or navigating workplace expectations. Many are also hesitant to ask for accommodations or help, fearing stigma or uncertainty about how employers will respond. I urge the Ministry to take action in two key areas.

First, in order to design effective policies, we need data. Can the Ministry conduct periodic national surveys to gauge the prevalence of neurodivergence in our adult population and the challenges faced by neurodivergent adults? A national survey can help us to understand how best to support neurodivergent adults in daily life and in the workplace. The Ministry can then craft targeted support measures that are evidence based and impactful.

Second, we need to raise more awareness around neurodiversity, especially in the workplace. This can be done through awareness training for both employers and employees. Such training helps address common misconceptions around neurodivergent conditions. It also offers a platform to facilitate open discussion on potential workplace adjustments that can both accommodate neurodivergent employees and play to their strengths. On top of raising sufficient awareness, we must also ensure safe and fair disclosure practises and combat stigma. Similar to mental health conditions, perhaps the Government could introduce an advisory on providing support for employees with neurodivergent conditions.

At the end of the day, this is about creating an inclusive society, one that recognises and values the contributions of all individuals. Let us ensure that support for neurodivergent individuals does not stop at the school gates but extends into the later stages of life.