Family & gender

• Louis Ng Kok Kwang inquired about the average and median number of group 2, group 3, and group 4 cases handled by social workers over the past four years.
• He specifically referenced the assessed risk and complexity of these cases under the FSC-Code of Social Work Practice.
• Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded by providing data on the average and median number of cases managed by Family Service Centre social workers from FY2020 to FY2023.

• Louis Ng Kok Kwang inquired about the annual median and average monthly income of single unwed parents in different age groups for 2023.
• The Minister for Social and Family Development, Masagos Zulkifli, reported that the average monthly income for working citizen mothers with non-marital births was $2,500 for those below 35 years and $8,000 for those aged 35 and above.
• The median income was $1,000 for those below 35 years and $5,400 for those aged 35 and above, with lower incomes for younger parents attributed to part-time work or limited employment.
• Wage data for the specific age group of 35 to 36 years was not provided due to a small population size.

• The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) aims to increase the number of foster parents to provide stable homes for children in state care, implementing various awareness and support initiatives.
• MSF collaborates with media, community organizations, and corporate partners to promote fostering, including hosting an Annual Fostering Open House for prospective parents.
• Support for foster parents includes training, financial allowances (increased to $1,100 per child), and additional subsidies for healthcare and childcare.
• Challenges in recruiting foster parents include concerns about time, resources, family dynamics, and emotional difficulties during transitions, which MSF is actively addressing.
• The positive impact of foster care on children from difficult backgrounds is emphasized, with a call for more families to consider becoming foster parents.

• Mark Lee proposed that the Ministry of Defence consider adjusting the compensation framework for National Servicemen (NSmen) who are primary homemakers, suggesting that Make-Up Pay be based on their spouse's income when the spouse takes unpaid leave for caregiving duties.
• Ng Eng Hen explained that the current compensation system provides a base NS pay of $1,600 per month for all NSmen, regardless of their employment status, and emphasized that this system has been effective.
• The Minister highlighted that the family structures of NSmen vary, and while the Ministry recognizes the additional responsibilities placed on family members during NS duties, they do not plan to extend compensation to include spouse income.
• Financial support for NSmen's families is provided through tax relief and NS Home awards, which assist with housing, medical, and education needs.
• NSmen are typically notified of their call-ups in advance to allow for planning, and they can apply for compassionate leave if urgent circumstances arise.

• Louis Ng Kok Kwang questioned the Ministry of Health about the policy regarding medical certificates for husbands accompanying their wives for IVF treatments in public hospitals.
• The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, explained that medical certificates are issued based on medical necessity, primarily for the women undergoing IVF, and the policy has not changed since 2021.
• Husbands can receive medical certificates if they undergo IVF-related tests or procedures, but they are not automatically entitled to them just for accompanying their wives.
• Doctors can provide memos certifying that the wife has received IVF treatment, which husbands can use to request time off or flexible work arrangements from their employers.

• Mr. Chua Kheng Wee Louis inquired about the latest statistics on infant and childcare places and their ratios to resident children under seven years old, broken down by planning areas.
• The Minister of State for Social and Family Development, Ms. Sun Xueling, reported that as of end-2024, there are approximately 16,000 infant care places (70% utilized) and 200,000 childcare places (77% utilized), with median utilization rates below 90% across all planning areas.
• Chua highlighted concerns about higher utilization rates in areas like Sengkang and Punggol, questioning how the introduction of new childcare places would affect these ratios in the coming years.
• Sun responded that Sengkang's infant and childcare utilization rates are higher than the national average, emphasizing the importance of early collaboration between the Early Childhood Development Agency and the Housing and Development Board to plan for new centres in developing estates.

• The spending on preschool education in Singapore increased from $1 billion in 2018 to $1.3 billion in 2023, attributed to higher enrollment in full-day childcare and inflation.
• The government has implemented various measures to enhance affordability, including basic subsidies for all Singapore Citizen children and additional subsidies for lower-income families.
• Fee caps for preschool services have been progressively reduced, resulting in a decrease in median childcare fees from $800 in 2018 to $720 in 2023.
• The household income ceiling for additional subsidies was raised from $7,500 to $12,000 in 2020, allowing more families to benefit from financial support.
• A median-income household now spends a lower percentage of their income on preschool education, decreasing from 4.9% in 2018 to 3.1% in 2023.

Indranee Rajah, Minister and Second Minister for Finance and National Development, stated that the government's marriage and parenthood initiatives are expected to cost nearly $7 billion in FY2026, an increase from over $4 billion in 2020. This funding primarily supports the early childhood sector and upcoming parental leave enhancements, in addition to existing education and housing subsidies. A written statement later clarified that most of the funding increase is specifically for the early childhood sector and parental leave enhancements.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked if divorced or widowed foreigners with a Singapore Citizen child under 21 could keep or purchase HDB flats to meet housing needs. Desmond Lee clarified that non-residents cannot purchase HDB flats, but a divorced or widowed non-resident can retain a matrimonial flat if they include an eligible Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident family member. If widowed, the flat may be held in trust for the child until they turn 21, and if other options are unavailable, they may be allowed to rent a public rental flat.

Yip Hon Weng raised concerns regarding the potential correlation between preschoolers spending over 40 hours a week in childcare and their performance in English and Mathematics in later schooling. Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that the Government does not track individual hours in preschool but noted a trend towards full-day childcare enrollment among parents. The Early Childhood Development Agency has initiated programs to enhance the quality of preschool education and support holistic child development, including updated learning frameworks and the Singapore Preschool Accreditation Framework (SPARK) 2.0. The Minister emphasized the critical role of parental involvement in child development and encouraged employers to foster family-friendly work environments.

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked about the rise in reported child abuse cases in 2021, seeking details on the sources of reports and the effectiveness of awareness campaigns. Masagos Zulkifli reported an increase in calls to the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline, indicating greater public awareness of domestic violence. Reports from the general public and family members increased slightly, but public institutions continued to account for approximately 95% of child abuse investigations from 2021 to 2023, down from 98% in 2020.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang requested data on the number of single unwed parents in 2023, categorized by age at the time of their child's birth. Masagos Zulkifli reported that there were 577 non-marital births among mothers below 35 years old, 27 for those aged 35, and 132 for mothers aged 36 years and older.

Rachel Ong requested information on cases of elder and child abuse by domestic helpers from 2015 to 2024, along with penalties and measures to reduce such abuse. K Shanmugam explained that the Police do not track this data systematically, but from 2022 to 2024, approximately 45 cases were reported annually involving migrant domestic workers suspected of abuse, with a majority involving children. Offenders can face penalties under the Penal Code or the Children and Young Persons Act, with sentences ranging from two years to life imprisonment, particularly for offenses against vulnerable victims. The Ministry of Manpower has initiatives to educate domestic workers about laws and responsibilities, including orientation programs to promote positive relationships between workers and employers, and outreach efforts to support stress management and communication.

Leong Mun Wai asked about the increase in the percentage of married couples in resident households where both partners are employed since 2020 and requested current statistics by age group. Gan Kim Yong responded that, according to the 2020 Census of Population, about 53% of married couples had both spouses employed, an increase from 47% in 2010. He indicated that detailed age group statistics are available on the Department of Statistics' website.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang raised a question about how the Ministry for Social and Family Development supports kindergarten children with developmental needs when parents decline existing programs. Masagos Zulkifli explained that children are assessed by pediatricians and referred to appropriate Early Intervention (EI) programs, with strong encouragement for parental enrollment. The Early Childhood Development Agency has made EI programs more accessible and affordable, with significant funding increases and subsidized fees. Parents who opt out can utilize the Child Development Account for alternative programs or seek resources and training through SG Enable to support their child's development.

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked about interim housing applications from elderly residents or childless couples waiting for HDB BTO flats, the approval rates, and plans for more subsidized rental options. Desmond Lee explained that the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) is the main scheme for subsidized rentals, with supply increasing from 800 in 2021 to over 2,000 currently, and further to 4,000 units this year. In 2024, 30% of childless couples were successful in the PPHS, a marked improvement from 2022. Interim rental housing is available on a case-by-case basis, but HDB does not track the number of requests, having assisted 59 childless couples and 107 elderly households in the last three years. HDB is also increasing Shorter Waiting Time (SWT) flats to better meet demand for housing.

The debate primarily focused on the challenges and support for families, marriage, and parenthood in Singapore, with contributions from various Members of Parliament and the Minister for Finance and National Development. The Government has committed to reviewing and updating policies to better support families, emphasizing the importance of a whole-of-society approach. There is recognition of global trends in declining fertility rates, prompting discussion on the need for more robust family support measures. The Minister highlighted various initiatives for housing, financial support for child-rearing, and work-life balance, assuring ongoing efforts to provide a conducive environment for families in Singapore. An amendment proposed to call for a "re-imagination" of policies was ultimately rejected, confirming the Government's commitment to continued policy review.

• The debate centered around the performance of Singapore's marriage and parenthood policies following the alarming drop in the birth rate to a historic low of 0.97. Members called for a comprehensive review and innovation of these policies to better support families.
• Various parliament members highlighted essential areas for improvement including enhancing parental leave, increasing childcare subsidies, and expanding accessibility to affordable housing to alleviate financial burdens on families.
• The importance of creating a supportive ecosystem that includes flexible work arrangements (FWAs), gender equality in caregiving roles, and infrastructural support for various family structures, such as blended and single-parent families, was emphasized.
• The overarching narrative stressed that building a family-friendly Singapore requires a concerted whole-of-society approach, with active participation from the government, community, and businesses to foster an environment conducive to marriage and parenthood.
• Suggestions included implementing community programs to facilitate socializing among singles, reevaluating student care assistance for better affordability, and encouraging collaborative parenting through improved workplace policies and public awareness campaigns.

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked about initiatives to encourage acceptance of healthy family boundaries guidelines without stigmatizing differing parental views. She sought clarity on support programs for professionals working with families and questioned how the Ministry assesses behaviors that may indicate child abuse versus poor parenting. Minister of State Sun Xueling noted that written responses had been provided for related questions and emphasized that the guidelines are intended as general principles, not strict rules. She addressed concerns about public awareness and confirmed that the guidelines do not currently address physical discipline but acknowledged the complexity of parenting practices, emphasizing the Ministry's role in child protection when necessary.

He Ting Ru raised questions about the Grow Well SG initiative regarding personalized health plans for children, seeking details on contact time, personnel involvement, and additional manpower needs for implementation. Yip Hon Weng inquired about effective information dissemination, support for parents, and monitoring of screen usage guidelines for children. The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, responded that information will be shared through annual school health screenings with trained personnel, with the expected engagement time for children being about 30 minutes. He emphasized that while no additional manpower will be recruited, existing staff are motivated to adapt to new responsibilities associated with the initiative. Ong acknowledged the need for tailored support for diverse parental challenges and the commitment to continually update guidelines based on new evidence from ongoing studies.