Family & gender

Wan Rizal questioned the Minister for Social and Family Development about indicators used to assess family stability and social mobility under ComLink+, the prevalence of persistent challenges faced by these families, and how recent outcomes inform preventive support for vulnerable households. Masagos Zulkifli explained that progress is tracked using indicators detailed in the Supporting Lower-Income Households Trends Report 2025. Family coaches and case workers identify families in need and collaborate with agencies to provide upstream support services, including preschool enrolment and KidSTART programs.

Lee Hong Chuang asked about the Ministry of Social and Family Development's efforts to enhance support for families, particularly those with young children, and the effectiveness of its programs in strengthening family resilience and bonds. Masagos Zulkifli shared that 85.9% of families reported moderate to high resilience, with the Families For Life (FFL) movement offering various programs like marriage preparation and parenting initiatives, which have been effective. The ministry promotes family-friendly workplaces, encourages flexible work arrangements, and has improved parental leave provisions, including a new Shared Parental Leave scheme. Resources like the Family Assist portal and professional counseling are available for families facing challenges, emphasizing a holistic approach to support families at all life stages. Building family resilience involves collaboration between the government, community, and businesses.

Elysa Chen asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about the allocation of additional resources to community agencies in response to increased Tier 1 domestic violence cases as reported in the Domestic Violence Trends Report 2024. Masagos Zulkifli noted that this question had previously been addressed in the House on 5 November 2025, where it was answered by the Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration. He stated that there are no further updates available regarding caseloads per social worker at Protection Specialist Centres.

Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked about the possibility of lowering the breast cancer screening age limit under Healthier SG to 45 years to aid early detection. Ong Ye Kung responded that currently, women aged 50 to 69 can receive fully subsidized screening biennially, while women aged 40 to 49 can be screened if deemed appropriate by their doctor. The Ministry of Health acknowledges the rising incidence of breast cancer, including among younger women, and will continue to assess screening guidelines and evidence.

Diana Pang Li Yen asked about potential policy exceptions for older divorcees facing difficulties in purchasing a new home due to CPF Retirement Account regulations after selling their HDB flat following a court-ordered sale. Tan See Leng explained that CPF members' net sale proceeds are used to return withdrawn CPF amounts to their accounts, with funds for members aged 55 and above prioritizing the Retirement Accounts first. He noted that members can use excess funds from their Retirement Accounts to purchase smaller HDB flats under specific conditions and that appeals for using more RA savings for housing purchases are considered on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, resources are available for divorcing couples to explore post-divorce housing options through designated online tools and agencies.

Dr. Wan Rizal questioned how the Ministry of Social and Family Development will evaluate the effectiveness of new initiatives aimed at enhancing Singapore's social service workforce, focusing on mental health and family support. Masagos Zulkifli highlighted initiatives such as improved study awards and training pathways to attract new entrants and support existing professionals in social services. The Ministry intends to monitor manpower needs, professional outcomes, and the uptake of the enhanced programs to ensure adequate resources and accessibility in mental health and family support services. Expanded funding for leadership training will also contribute to strengthening competencies within the workforce.

Lee Hui Ying asked about the criteria the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) uses to decide if a preschool should remain operational after reports of child mismanagement or abuse. Masagos Zulkifli emphasized that ECDA imposes penalties based on the severity of the breach, which could include financial penalties or licence revocation. The agency assesses the circumstances, including the safety of continuing operations and the nature of the breaches before making decisions. Child safety remains a top priority for the Ministry of Social and Family Development, and ECDA aims to ensure compliance among preschool operators.

Dr. Wan Rizal asked about non-financial barriers affecting preschool attendance among children from lower-income families and the Ministry’s strategies to address these issues. Masagos Zulkifli highlighted that lower-income families often face challenges like irregular employment and caregiving responsibilities that hinder regular attendance. The Ministry is committed to ensuring a good start for every child through targeted support from family coaches who help families recognize the value of preschool, improve routines, and secure better work schedules. Additionally, the ComLink+ Progress Package rewards consistent preschool attendance and collaborations with grassroots organizations promote the importance of preschool education. The Early Childhood Development Agency is also enhancing support at selected preschools for children from these families.

Ng Shi Xuan questioned the Minister for Social and Family Development about the presence of both male and female staff during interactions with preschool children and whether such protocols exist. Masagos Zulkifli responded that current regulations do not mandate the presence of both genders for all interactions. Instead, the regulations require preschools to create a safe learning environment and ensure qualified staff adhere to approved protocols for child management and safety. All staff, regardless of gender, must follow the established guidelines while caring for children.

David Hoe asked if the Ministry for Social and Family Development would consider replacing the term "illegitimate" with "non-marital child" to reduce stigma associated with children born out of wedlock and if alternatives to adoption or marriage are being studied for securing parental responsibility and inheritance equality for single unwed mothers' children. Masagos Zulkifli responded that there are no current plans to change the term "illegitimacy," as it has established legal significance reflecting societal norms promoting marriage. He noted that under the Women's Charter, parents are obligated to maintain their children regardless of legitimacy status, and illegitimate children can inherit from their parents similarly to legitimate children.

Cai Yinzhou raised concerns regarding the criteria for distinguishing between excessive discipline and severe abuse in cases necessitating child removal from the family, including the role of educators in requesting health assessments. He also inquired about how the Singapore Police Force locates uncontactable parents or caregivers in suspected abuse cases and the inter-agency protocols in place for urgent searches. Foo Cexiang asked the Minister about the differences in police investigative actions in two specific child protection cases that resulted in different outcomes. The Minister mentioned that details had been previously addressed in an oral reply related to the review of the Megan Khung case, highlighting lessons learned and new processes for police case resolution.

Charlene Chen asked if childcare leave provisions could be adjusted to reflect the number of children under seven, rather than a flat rate per parent. Indranee Rajah referred to a previous written reply regarding enhancements to childcare leave, indicating ongoing support for working parents. The Government is open to considering Chen's suggestion in future reviews of leave provisions.

Ng Shi Xuan asked if the Ministry for Social and Family Development would consider using AI technologies for reviewing CCTV footage in preschools and mandating tamper-proof recording systems. Masagos Zulkifli explained that all preschools are required to install CCTV cameras and comply with regulatory guidelines, but there is no specific mandate for tamper-proof systems. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is exploring AI solutions for detecting safety hazards and potential misconduct and will use AI to enhance investigations. Regular reviews of CCTV footage are not mandated to avoid overburdening educators, emphasizing that CCTV is one of multiple measures for child safety in preschools.

Low Wu Yang Andre questioned the Minister for Home Affairs concerning failures by SPF officers to adhere to established processes in the investigation of Megan Khung's fatal child abuse incident. K Shanmugam acknowledged the tragedy and detailed that lapses occurred due to a failure to escalate the case for proper review and monitoring, leading to complications in the investigation. The Police conducted internal reviews and disciplined those involved, reinforcing procedures and training to prevent future occurrences. Enhancements include the introduction of specialized training for handling family violence cases and the formation of dedicated Family Violence Teams to provide focused support. The Minister emphasized the ongoing need for supervision, review processes, and the use of technology to improve officers' efficiency and adherence to protocols.

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat questioned the Minister for Social and Family Development about the evaluation and reasoning behind the discontinuation of the Integrated Childcare Programme (ICCP) in 2024, as well as concerns regarding service gaps until the Inclusive Support Programme (InSP) expands in 2026. Masagos Zulkifli explained that the ICCP was providing tailored support but was not a substitute for more intensive Early Intervention (EI) services, which continued to be offered separately. Enhancements have been made to increase direct EI support in preschool settings, and the InSP, which offers integrated EI services, will start scaling up in the following year. Additionally, all preschools are now required to appoint an Inclusion Coordinator to help identify children needing EI support and ensure they access the necessary resources.

Valerie Lee proposed that the government consider introducing a permanent baby gift, akin to Singapore's SG60 Baby Gift, to assist new parents with essential items. Indranee Rajah responded that the SG60 Baby Gift was designed for a specific commemorative purpose and that there are currently no plans for a permanent version, although financial support measures for parents have been enhanced over the years. Valerie Lee asked about the possibility of a pilot program or any surveys regarding the impact of past baby gifts, to which Indranee Rajah explained that the cash-based Baby Bonus is more effective for parents than a specific gift and mentioned that the Baby Gifts are not designed to be ongoing policy measures. Indranee clarified that different parents have varying needs, making cash support more suitable for their choices.

David Hoe questioned the Minister for Manpower about employer awareness and adoption of the Tripartite Standard on Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs, especially concerning parents of children with special health conditions. Shawn Huang Wei Zhong reported that 880 new employers adopted the standard from January 2023 to date, totaling over 4,500 adopters. The Ministry promotes progressive employment practices through outreach, including workshops by the Singapore National Employers Federation. Hoe raised concerns about whether the current four weeks of unpaid leave is sufficient and suggested a public registry of supportive employers, while Huang noted ongoing enhancements to parental leave provisions and encouraged flexible work arrangements for better support to parents.