Family & gender

Elysa Chen asked about the monitoring and evaluation frameworks used by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) for government-funded social service programs and whether findings influenced recent policies. Masagos Zulkifli explained that MSF analyzes population-level outcomes and through various performance indicators at the program level to ensure support reaches those in need. An example is the KidSTART evaluation, which showed positive results in parent-child interactions and child development outcomes, leading to the decision to scale the program nationwide. Additionally, the National Council of Social Service launched the Sector Evaluation Framework and published a report comparing youth program outcomes, highlighting the importance of program fidelity.

Fadli Fawzi questioned the Minister for Social and Family Development about the classification of illegitimate births in Singapore since 2020, the adoption of these children by biological parents, the average adoption process duration, and government actions to reduce stigma. Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated there were about 745 non-marital live births annually from 2020 to 2024, with only 12 adopted by biological parents during that time. The average duration for the adoption process, including social investigations, is approximately nine months. The government aims to combat stigma against children of single unwed parents by promoting inclusivity and providing equal benefits, regardless of parents' marital status, in areas like education and healthcare.

Poh Li San raised a question about measures to support caregivers, particularly frontline workers, in taking time off for medical appointments with their parents. Tan See Leng responded that flexible work arrangements (FWAs) are available to assist all employees, including frontline workers, with caregiving responsibilities. The government and tripartite partners introduced the Tripartite Guidelines on FWA Requests to help employees request FWAs formally while considering business grounds. Additionally, employees can utilize statutory annual leave or voluntary employer provisions like caregiver leave to meet their needs.

Hany Soh raised a question about the potential for greater protections against the misuse of nursing and lactation rooms in the Building and Construction Authority's Code on Accessibility. Chee Hong Tat explained that the Code outlines minimum design requirements for accessible buildings but that the management of these facilities falls to building owners and facility managers. He encouraged building owners to implement measures such as access controls and regular monitoring, as well as to provide clear signage for proper usage. There is a call for users to be civic-minded in using these facilities.

Elysa Chen asked about the possibility of extending the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme Voucher scheme beyond December 2025 and the factors influencing that decision. Chee Hong Tat responded that the scheme is a temporary measure to assist eligible families renting HDB flats or bedrooms while increasing the supply of PPHS units to 4,000 by year-end. There are currently no plans to extend the Voucher as the PPHS supply ramp-up is proceeding as expected, with previous rounds allowing all married applicants with children to select a flat.

• Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat inquired about the number of HDB flat applications canceled due to the death of a sole citizen parent and the appeal mechanisms for surviving parents.
• Chee Hong Tat responded that HDB adopts a compassionate approach in such cases, focusing on the welfare of surviving minor Singapore Citizen children.
• If the death occurs after key collection, the surviving Permanent Resident parent can retain the flat with their Singapore Citizen child.
• HDB assesses each case individually for other scenarios, potentially allowing the flat to be held in trust until the child turns 21.
• HDB does not track cancellations specifically due to the death of a sole Singapore Citizen parent.

• The Minister for Manpower reported that 72.5% of private companies now offer at least one type of flexible work arrangement (FWA) for employees, an increase from 68.0% in 2023.
• The government has introduced the Tripartite Guidelines on FWA Requests to facilitate the process for employees to request flexible work arrangements.
• Employers are legally required to provide paid maternity, paternity, childcare leave, and some offer additional voluntary caregiving leave, with 36.1% providing paid family care leave and 34.0% offering paid child sick leave.
• The government encourages discussions between employers and employees regarding caregiving-related leave and FWAs, rather than establishing a formal recognition system for primary caregivers.
• Ongoing reviews of support for caregivers in the workplace will continue to ensure their needs are met.

• Elysa Chen inquired about government support for stay-at-home mothers regarding retirement adequacy and workforce reintegration.
• Minister Tan See Leng highlighted existing initiatives like the HerCareer program and Career Conversion Programmes to assist stay-at-home mothers in returning to work.
• The government offers measures to enhance retirement savings for stay-at-home mothers, including the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme and Silver Support Scheme.
• Ongoing reviews of support measures for caregivers, including stay-at-home mothers, will be conducted to ensure their needs are met throughout life stages.

• Mr. Ng Shi Xuan questioned the representativeness of the Digital Parenting Survey regarding the income levels of Singapore's resident parent population.
• Mrs. Josephine Teo responded that the survey's sample is representative by gender, age, and race, but income level data is not available to assess representativeness in that regard.

• A survey revealed that only 37% of parents feel confident in guiding their children's digital habits, prompting discussions on stronger legislation for online safety.
• The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) is implementing age assurance measures for app stores by March 2026 to prevent underage access to inappropriate content.
• The Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill will establish the Online Safety Commission by mid-2026, aimed at supporting victims of online harms like cyberbullying.
• The Commission will have the authority to issue directives to halt online harm and assist victims in seeking relief.
• MDDI is collaborating with various ministries and community organizations to provide parents with resources and support for fostering healthy digital habits in children.

• Over 80% of infants in the ECDA Childminding Pilot are enrolled in full-day care, similar to the full-day enrollment in centre-based infant care services.
• The pilot scheme shows a significant preference for full-day care among families.
• Almost all families participating in the pilot have utilized their Child Development Accounts to help pay for childminding services.

• Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik inquired about the income levels of families enrolled in the ECDA childminding pilot scheme, specifically those with a gross monthly household income below $12,000 or a per capita income below $3,000 for larger households.
• Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that the fees for the childminding pilot are not means-tested, and therefore, the Early Childhood Development Agency does not collect income information from the parents using these services.

• Ms. Diana Pang Li Yen inquired about the Ministry of Social and Family Development's tracking of domestic child abduction cases and the potential for new legislation to expedite processes in such cases.
• The Minister, Masagos Zulkifli, highlighted existing measures for resolving child access disputes, including mediation and court applications, and recent changes to support parents and children.
• A mandatory co-parenting program for divorcing parents was introduced to prioritize children's well-being, along with enhanced enforcement measures for child access orders.
• The Minister stated there are no immediate plans for further changes or expedited processes, but the Ministry will continue to monitor the situation for potential future enhancements.

• Patrick Tay proposed reviewing the Extended Childcare Leave scheme to increase government reimbursement and suggested introducing a Paid Caregiving Leave scheme for caregivers of elderly family members.
• Gan Kim Yong, representing the Prime Minister, highlighted the government's ongoing support for parents and caregivers, including recent enhancements to parental leave provisions.
• The government is open to studying further enhancements to leave provisions while balancing the needs of employees and the business costs for employers.
• Many employers are already offering caregiving-related leave provisions voluntarily to attract and retain talent.
• The government emphasizes the importance of flexible work arrangements for caregivers and will continue to assess and improve current leave provisions.

• Victor Lye proposed allowing the transfer of unused balances from the Child Development Account (CDA) to the Edusave Account when a child enters primary school to support ongoing educational needs.
• Gan Kim Yong, representing the Prime Minister, explained that the CDA and Edusave Account serve different purposes, with the CDA focused on early childhood expenses and the Edusave on primary and secondary education.
• The CDA is designed for preschool and childcare costs, while Edusave funds can cover school fees and enrichment programs, with additional financial assistance available for parents.
• Transferring CDA balances to Edusave would limit parents' ability to use those funds for other necessary expenses, as CDA balances can only be used until the child turns 12.
• Unused CDA balances will automatically transfer to the Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) after age 12 to support further educational expenses.

• The criteria for admission to the Early Childhood Development Agency's Inclusive Support Programme (InSP) include assessment by a paediatrician, matching the child's needs with available preschool support, and parental location preferences.
• Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents are the only eligible applicants for InSP places, ensuring priority for local children.
• The Ministry plans to add approximately 600 new InSP places from 2026, distributed across 15 to 20 preschools, based on projected demand for early intervention services.

• The debate focused on the long-term impact of the Ministry of Education's (MOE) kindergarten expansion on the economic viability and diversity of Singapore's kindergarten sector.
• The government aims to provide affordable and quality preschool access, with around 90% of children aged three to six currently enrolled in preschool.
• MOE plans to increase the number of MOE Kindergartens to 60 by 2029, which have been instrumental in enhancing preschool quality and supporting lower-income families.
• The demand for half-day kindergarten services is declining, leading to a shift towards full-day childcare options, which the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is prioritizing.
• The Partner Operator scheme will not be expanded to kindergartens due to sufficient existing kindergarten places and the focus on meeting the demand for full-day childcare services.

• The Early Childhood Development Agency's childminding pilot scheme has 60% of infants cared for in childminders' homes and 40% in community premises.
• There are ongoing efforts to explore more community premises to meet the demand from parents and childminders.
• The matching process between families and childminders includes interviews and home visits to ensure suitability.
• The average waiting time for families to be matched with a childminder varies from a few days to a few months, depending on individual needs and preferences.

• The Ministry of Social and Family Development will disallow the use of Child Development Account (CDA) funds at optical shops and retail pharmacies starting January 2026 due to concerns over misuse.
• The change will not affect pharmacy departments within healthcare institutions, where CDA funds can still be used for necessary medical products.
• The Ministry plans to regularly review CDA usage to ensure it meets the developmental needs of children and has recently expanded its use to cover preschool incidental charges and enrichment programs.
• Parents have access to additional government support schemes, such as the Baby Bonus Cash Gift and Child LifeSG Credits, to help with child-raising costs.
• Lower-income families can seek assistance from Social Service Offices if they require financial support.

• The debate centered on the challenges faced by independent preschools in Singapore, highlighting a trend of closures and a perceived lack of support from government policies favoring larger, government-supported operators.
• Kenneth Tiong proposed a preschool voucher system that would fund children directly rather than schools, aiming to create a more equitable and competitive market for preschool education.
• The government, represented by Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua, emphasized its commitment to maintaining a diverse preschool sector and rejected the notion of nationalizing preschool education, while outlining existing measures to ensure affordability and quality.
• Tiong raised concerns about the impact of current funding models on educational diversity and quality, arguing that they lead to a "cookie-cutter" approach to early childhood education.
• The discussion concluded with a call for reforms to enhance transparency in funding and to support a wider range of preschool options for parents and children.