Family & gender

Foo Cexiang asked about the Take-A-Break (TAB) caregiver respite programme, specifically regarding application numbers, approval and rejection rates, and the possibility of extending the programme and providing overnight respite care. Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that since its launch in 2020, 576 applications have been received, with approximately 84% approved and 3% rejected due to requests being outside the programme's scope. He noted that overnight respite care is already available under TAB, and a review of the programme's future is ongoing as it approaches its end date of March 31, 2026.

Ng Shi Xuan asked if the Digital Parenting Surveys would collect and analyze income levels to better represent Singapore's parent population. Mrs. Josephine Teo explained that income is a sensitive variable, often undisclosed by respondents, which complicates data analysis. She noted that survey designers should consider the overall representativeness and whether proxies like educational attainment are sufficient. The current findings indicate that parents with lower educational qualifications are less likely to monitor their children's online activities.

Cai Yinzhou and other Parliament members raised questions regarding the review of the February 2020 fatal child abuse case, seeking clarity on the child's communication with agencies, intervention criteria for child removal, and proposed reforms for the child protection system. The Minister for Social and Family Development, Desmond Lee, acknowledged past lapses and emphasized the need for improvements in training social workers and enhancing inter-agency coordination. The Ministry accepts the review panel's recommendations and plans to implement measures by 2026 to strengthen child protection processes, including establishing a coordination center and improving reporting frameworks. Concerns about the balance between protecting children and preventing unnecessary family disruption were highlighted, emphasizing the need for a thoughtful approach to intervention.

• Mr. Chua Kheng Wee Louis inquired about the specific staff-to-child ratios for preschools and student care centres, including the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile.
• The Ministry for Social and Family Development (MSF) establishes minimum staff-to-child ratios to ensure children's safety and well-being in preschools and student care centres.
• Preschools have varying ratios based on program levels, ranging from one staff for every five infants to one staff for every 25 kindergarten children.
• Student care centres receiving fee assistance must maintain a minimum ratio of one staff for every 25 students.
• Centres have the flexibility to exceed minimum staffing requirements based on their specific programming needs and available manpower.

• The debate focused on the utilization patterns of Child Development Accounts (CDAs) during children's primary school years, particularly regarding their drawdown and usage.
• Most CDA expenditures occurred before age seven, primarily for preschool expenses, with a median balance of about $600 for children turning 12 between 2020 and 2024.
• Between ages seven and 12, CDA funds were mainly used for healthcare and siblings' preschool costs, while primary school needs were typically covered by Edusave accounts.
• There is a concern about minimal or no drawdown of CDA funds, prompting discussions on allowing unused funds for primary school learning.
• The government plans to continue reviewing CDA usage to ensure it meets the evolving needs of parents and children.

• Ms. Valerie Lee inquired about the assessments for childcare capacity in Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, including their frequency and any specific evaluations for Changi.
• Minister Masagos Zulkifli stated that the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) monitors childcare demand based on population and enrolment trends, collaborating with other agencies to develop new preschools.
• As of September 2025, there are 45 childcare centers in the Pasir Ris Planning Area, with a total of 400 infant care places and 5,490 childcare places, which are not fully subscribed.

• Dr. Wan Rizal inquired about the expansion of targeted screening and counselling for women aged 40-59 in primary care, including training for GPs on menopause and the scaling of menopause support programs.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung confirmed that existing healthcare frameworks already include screening and counselling pathways for women in this age group, as well as menopause management.
• Under the Healthier SG initiative, women are encouraged to screen for cardiovascular risk factors and various cancers, with primary care doctors trained to address menopause-related health issues.
• Additional support for women experiencing menopause is available through public resources and interest groups like "Dynamite Daisies," which focus on women's health awareness and support.

• Ms. Valerie Lee inquired about studies assessing the needs of workers caring for both elderly parents and young children, and proposed a "Sandwich Generation Leave" for such families.
• Minister Tan See Leng responded that while the government conducts studies on caregivers, they do not specifically focus on those balancing care for both young children and elderly parents.
• He noted the impracticality of introducing multiple leave types for diverse caregiving needs but mentioned enhancements to parental leave and voluntary caregiving leave by some employers.
• The government has also introduced guidelines to facilitate flexible work arrangements to help working caregivers manage their responsibilities.

• The debate focused on the need for common regional standards among ASEAN countries to combat child trafficking in intercountry adoptions.
• Child trafficking is defined as the recruitment and transfer of children for exploitation, including illegal adoptions and other forms of abuse.
• ASEAN has established frameworks, such as the Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence Against Children and the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, to address child trafficking through prevention, prosecution, protection, and partnership.
• Singapore's adoption laws include safeguards like verifying identity papers and ensuring valid consent from birth parents to prevent child trafficking.
• The collaboration between Singapore and ASEAN partners is emphasized as effective in addressing child trafficking issues.

• David Hoe proposed expanding the permissible uses of Child Development Account (CDA) funds to include subsidies for enrichment classes beyond preschools and suggested applying means-testing to CDA top-ups for better support of lower-income households.
• Indranee Rajah responded that the scope of CDA use was already expanded in May to cover preschool incidental charges and optional in-school enrichment programmes, but not for external enrichment programmes to ensure funds are used for preschool-related expenses.
• The government provides broad-based CDA top-ups to assist families with child-raising costs, with additional means-tested subsidies available for lower-income families through preschool subsidies and Social Service Offices.

Gabriel Lam requested information from the Minister for Social and Family Development regarding unauthorized Child Development Account (CDA) withdrawals at optical shops and retail pharmacies over the past five years. The Ministry identified approximately 1,600 unauthorized transactions during this period and has sought refunds for the amounts withdrawn. In cases of egregious misuse, reports were made to the Commercial Affairs Department. Due to high misuse risks and low CDA usage at these shops, the Ministry will discontinue CDA usage at optical shops and retail pharmacies starting January 1, 2026, while suggesting alternative support schemes for parents.