Family & gender

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked if the standardized tools for social service professionals include detection of emotional and psychological abuse and emotional neglect in family violence cases. Masagos Zulkifli confirmed that these aspects are indeed included in the assessment tools.

Melvin Yong proposed a reduction in the budget for the Ministry of Social and Family Development, emphasizing the need to strengthen Singapore's social compact to support low-income families and address inequality. There were calls for better support for vulnerable populations, including updates on social service agency salaries and funding, as well as initiatives to engage volunteers and promote active citizenship. Concerns about early childhood education standards and teacher shortages were raised, alongside the proposal of a tiered caregiver payment model to recognize family caregiving as essential work. The debate also focused on the need for targeted services for persons with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals, highlighting the importance of inclusive employment and education systems.

Louis Ng expressed relief that discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals is covered under current employment guidelines but urged for clearer communication on the TAFEP website regarding this coverage. He also advocated for the introduction of parent care leave, emphasizing the importance of supporting those caring for elderly parents, similar to childcare leave provisions. Rachel Ong highlighted the challenges faced by single caregivers due to return-to-office mandates and called for more firm policies around flexible work arrangements. Yeo Wan Ling discussed the need to normalize these arrangements and provide resources for small businesses. Dr. Koh Poh Koon detailed various government efforts to support workers at different career stages, including the introduction of the Jobseeker Support Scheme to assist those involuntarily unemployed.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang requested data from the Minister for Health on how many couples used MediSave accounts for Assisted Conception Procedures over the past five years, categorized by different spending ranges. Ong Ye Kung indicated that a detailed breakdown of the utilization of the lifetime limit would be provided in a table.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang requested an update on making the "Children-in-Between" programme, designed to help families cope with divorce, mandatory. Masagos Zulkifli B M M reiterated that the suggestion had been discussed previously and the government's stance is that parents should take primary responsibility for their children's well-being rather than the government mandating programs. He noted that the Mandatory Co-Parenting Programme has been extended to all parents with minor children filing for divorce, effective from July 1, 2024, to enhance support for prioritizing children's welfare.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked about the potential for direct caregiver grants to alleviate financial insecurity for caregivers and additional support plans from the Ministry of Social and Family Development. Masagos Zulkifli B M M highlighted ongoing government reviews and enhancements, including the Home Caregiving Grant and increased subsidies for long-term care services starting in 2026. The government aims to enable caregivers to balance work and caregiving through flexible arrangements, job placement, and skills support, while financial programs like the Workfare Income Supplement and various retirement schemes support caregivers’ long-term security. Other measures include enhancing parental leave policies and improving information access on caregiver services, along with mental health support for caregivers facing emotional challenges.

Desmond Choo moved to reduce the budget allocation for the Ministry of Manpower, highlighting MOM's significant reforms aimed at enhancing workforce quality and addressing the challenges of an ageing workforce and underemployment. MOM was urged to take decisive action to improve senior worker participation and women's workforce involvement through tailored support and initiatives. Various parliamentarians expressed concern over skill-related underemployment and the need for better tracking of resident jobs to address potential imbalances caused by immigration policies. Suggestions included implementing quotas for women in leadership roles, promoting returnship programs for women returning to work, and re-evaluating the Employment Act to better protect workers facing restructuring and dismissal issues. The need for an integrated approach to workforce transformation was emphasized, focusing on job redesign, skills upgrading, and the mental well-being of employees.

Yip Hon Weng asked about the possibility of extending the GST Voucher scheme to assist more middle-income households due to rising living costs, reviewing the income threshold for GST assistance, and providing more support for families with children under the qualifying income threshold. Shawn Huang Wei Zhong responded that the GST Voucher scheme supports lower- and middle-income households, with ongoing reviews of the income threshold. The government has introduced Cost-of-Living measures, including additional CDC Vouchers and U-Save for HDB households, alongside $500 Child LifeSG Credits for children under 12 and top-ups for Edusave accounts. Structural enhancements are being made to support families, such as reduced childcare fees and new childcare places, along with the Large Families Scheme that offers annual credits for families with multiple children.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for an update on the two-year pilot programme expanding the Household Services Scheme (HSS) to include basic childminding and elder-minding services and if this expansion would become permanent. Tan See Leng reported that the pilot, launched in March 2023, has seen 16 out of 25 approved companies providing these services, with approximately 1,300 households utilizing them by mid-2024. The Ministry of Manpower will assess the pilot's next steps based on factors like service take-up rates and household needs before providing further updates.

Chong Kee Hiong asked about the number of child abuse allegations made by one spouse against another during divorce and custody disputes over the past three years. Masagos Zulkifli B M M reported that, on average, 13 such cases were investigated annually. Approximately seven of these cases were confirmed as true, while about six were found to be unsubstantiated.

Cheryl Chan highlighted the need for housing policies that reflect changing demographics, advocating for revised income ceilings for HDB BTO flats to assist middle-income couples and singles who are ineligible under current restrictions. She also emphasized the importance of extending the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) program to private property owners to help seniors age in place with necessary modifications. Concerns were raised about long-term housing solutions for families with special needs children or adults, urging the Ministry to introduce exemptions and better support options. Pritam Singh and other MPs pointed out issues related to the rising costs of HDB resale flats, proposing policy adjustments to ensure affordability and retirement adequacy for buyers. The debate also covered recommendations for enhancing community spaces, wildlife management, and support for families facing housing challenges, including single unwed parents.

• The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) received approximately 4,000 to 5,000 vaping-related cases from the Police over the past two years, with only one case involving a parent referral.
• Parents concerned about their children's vaping can contact the Health Promotion Board (HPB) for support and counseling, with no enforcement action taken against the children.
• There are concerns that the current approach may discourage parents from seeking help for their children, as evidenced by a case where a child was fined after being reported to the Police by their parents.
• The Minister of State for Health emphasized the importance of a nuanced approach to such cases, encouraging parents to use the HPB hotline for assistance rather than reporting to the Police.
• The HPB provides support for vaping cessation similar to its smoking cessation services, allowing individuals to seek help voluntarily.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about ensuring childcare centres in new HDB BTO estates can start operating at a smaller scale when residents collect their keys. Masagos Zulkifli explained that residents typically take time to renovate their flats before moving in, so the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) collaborates with Anchor Operators to ensure preschools are ready to enroll children shortly after this period. ECDA facilitates early access to technical plans and site visits for preschool renovations and provides funding for recruiting staff in advance. Preschools are designed to begin operations at a smaller scale and gradually increase to full capacity.

Rachel Ong asked the Minister for Health about the number of postpartum depression incidents and related suicides among mothers in the last five years. Ong Ye Kung reported an average of 248 postpartum depression cases per year in public healthcare institutions, with fewer than one suicide annually. He mentioned that there are programmes in place for early detection and management of postpartum depression available at polyclinics and public hospitals.

• The debate focused on the awareness of first-time migrant domestic workers (MDWs) regarding the legal consequences of child and elder abuse.
• Miss Rachel Ong inquired about the inclusion of legal briefings and mental health support in the Settling-In Programme for MDWs.
• Minister Tan See Leng confirmed that all MDWs must attend the Settling-In Programme, where they are educated on legal repercussions for abuse and provided resources for mental well-being.
• The programme includes information on fostering good relationships with employers and managing stress, along with access to helplines for support.

• Louis Ng Kok Kwang proposed that the Government consider reimbursing Government-Paid Paternity Leave based on the average gross monthly salary prior to the leave.
• He also suggested including certain incentive payments and allowances in the reimbursement calculation, which are currently excluded.
• Indranee Rajah, speaking for the Prime Minister, explained that the Government-Paid Paternity Leave is designed to provide income support to working parents during their leave.
• The reimbursement is based on the gross rate of pay, which does not include variable components like overtime, incentive payments, or allowances for specific expenses.
• The Government sees no need to adjust the reimbursement calculation based on prior months' salary averages.

• Mr. Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim inquired about studies on the educational, emotional, and social outcomes for children in out-of-home care due to abuse, specifically comparing family-based care to residential care.
• The Minister for Social and Family Development, Masagos Zulkifli, referenced a 2019 study published by the Ministry that analyzed long-term placement outcomes of residential versus family foster care.
• The findings of the study are included in the MSF's Domestic Violence Trends Report 2024.