Family & gender

• Patrick Tay urged the implementation of the “3Ps” framework—Prevent, Protect, and Partner—to create respectful workplaces for educators, advocating for clear communication protocols, stronger punitive measures against harassment, and enhanced partnerships with parents and unions.
• The Ministry of State for Education acknowledged the challenges faced by teachers and affirmed commitments to support their well-being, including enforcing zero-tolerance policies against harassment and providing resources like counselling and parent-teacher guidelines.
• Both speakers emphasized the critical role of school leadership and tripartite efforts, including unions, in fostering a supportive environment, and highlighted the need to recognize and address the emotional labor and gendered aspects of teaching.

He Ting Ru questioned the Minister for National Development about the average living space per child in 1-room and 2-room rental flats and the Ministry's assessment of the minimum living space needed for children's healthy development. Desmond Lee responded that there are no imposed requirements for minimum living space per household due to varying family circumstances, and the Ministry does not actively track average living space per child in public rental flats.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang requested information from the Minister for Social and Family Development regarding the usage of Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) by mothers and fathers from 2021 to 2023. Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that the ministry tracks only those who took more than three days of GPCL for employer reimbursement purposes. From 2021 to 2022, about 60% of eligible mothers and 50% of eligible fathers took more than three days of GPCL, with both averaging six days of leave taken. Data for 2023 is not yet available.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Prime Minister about the take-up rate of childcare sick leave by public servants for the years 2021 to 2023. Chan Chun Sing responded that approximately half of the eligible Civil Service officers utilized Childcare Leave supported by a Medical Certificate during this period.

Indranee Rajah moved to adjourn the Parliament, prompting a discussion by Assoc Prof Razwana Begum on the impacts of menopause and perimenopause on women, emphasizing the need for a gender-informed approach to address their unique challenges. She highlighted the psychological, physical, and economic consequences of these life stages, advocating for better awareness and support systems, including education in schools, and adjustments to workplace policies. The Minister of State for Health, Rahayu Mahzam, acknowledged the importance of addressing menopause-related health issues through education for healthcare professionals, public awareness campaigns, and enhancing women’s well-being while balancing caregiving responsibilities. Both speakers called for a societal approach to reduce stigma and ensure support for women experiencing menopause, while recognizing the necessity of research and policy adjustments to promote gender equality.

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim questioned the Minister for Social and Family Development about mechanisms for foster carers to access health information about children in their care and addressing potential impediments from birth parents. Eric Chua explained that the Ministry collects health information from birth parents and can intervene if information is withheld, but foster parents do not have direct access to health records via HealthHub or Health Buddy due to birth parents' control. Razwana emphasized procedural delays in healthcare access for foster children, suggesting improved support from the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Ministry of Health, and the possibility of a dedicated health liaison for foster situations. Chua acknowledged the challenges and reiterated the support provided to foster families, including medical fee exemption cards and regular contact with foster care workers.

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked about the mechanisms in place for foster parents to access educational information related to children in their care, particularly through the Parents Gateway app. The Minister of State for Education, Gan Siow Huang, explained that schools collaborate with relevant agencies to share educational information based on the complex needs of each child, with access available through the app or other means. Razwana highlighted challenges faced by foster parents due to limited access to the app, suggesting a support program in schools for foster families to receive guidance and resources. Gan responded positively to the idea of establishing a support network for foster parents and emphasized the importance of sensitive communication between schools, foster parents, and social workers to ensure the best interests of the child.

He Ting Ru asked about research on gender gaps in AI adoption rates in Singapore, particularly in generative AI, and whether certain groups are reluctant to adopt these technologies. Rahayu Mahzam acknowledged global gender disparities but noted that Singaporean women are performing better, comprising 40% of the tech workforce, and 47% of GenAI users are female. Initiatives like SkillsFuture AI training courses, Code for Fun modules for schools, and public outreach programs aim to encourage AI adoption across various groups, with efforts to provide tailored support. He Ting Ru inquired about efforts to engage reluctant groups and tracking participant data by demographics, to which Rahayu Mahzam confirmed the importance of accessibility and support for underrepresented groups.

Gan Thiam Poh questioned the feasibility of implementing mandatory paid parent-care leave for working caregivers in the government's review of support measures. Tan See Leng acknowledged the diverse needs of caregivers and emphasized the importance of a holistic approach beyond just leave, such as long-term care support and flexible work arrangements. He mentioned that while leave can help, caregivers also benefit from options like part-time work and staggered hours. The government is considering the impact of mandatory leave on businesses and caregivers' long-term employability, requiring careful study and consultation with stakeholders.

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim raised several questions regarding stateless children and youth under 18 in Singapore, asking for their numbers, legal parental responsibilities, and how Singapore complies with UN provisions on child registration and nationality. Minister K Shanmugam stated that Singapore does not automatically grant citizenship to children born to foreign parents, with citizenship applications evaluated on various criteria. As of December 2023, there are seven stateless children under 12 and 13 youth aged 12 to 18, making up 2.3% of the total stateless population. The responsibility for a child's well-being lies with their parents or guardians, although those lacking caregivers can receive protection under the Children's Act. Stateless persons have access to healthcare, education, and housing services, but there are restrictions for those not holding Permanent Resident status.

The Child Development Co-Savings Act 2001 is being amended to introduce a new shared parental leave scheme and make related changes to the Income Tax Act 1947. The recommendation for the amendment was presented by Minister of State for Social and Family Development, Ms. Sun Xueling, on behalf of the Minister for Social and Family Development. The bill was read for the first time and will be read a second time at the next available sitting of Parliament. The sitting was temporarily suspended at 3:28 pm and set to resume at 3:45 pm.

• Ms See Jinli Jean raised a query on extending maternity protection to Singaporeans in non-standard employment, such as dependent self-employment, to address contract termination due to pregnancy.
• She asked if the Ministry for Manpower would provide such recourse and, if not, when it might consider doing so.
• Minister Tan See Leng responded that self-employed persons and service buyers should negotiate mutually favourable contracts, referencing the Tripartite Standard on Contracting with Self-Employed Persons.
• He noted that disputes can be resolved through the Small Claims Tribunals, without committing to extending formal maternity protection.

• Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim proposed extending the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme to allow single unmarried children and their elderly parents to jointly apply for BTO flats to live near each other.
• Minister Desmond Lee confirmed that from mid-2025, priority access for BTO flats will be extended to all parents and children, including both married and single children.
• The extension aligns with the National Day Rally 2024 announcement and aims to support family proximity across different household configurations.
• Further details on the implementation will be provided by the Ministry of National Development in due course.
• The policy change reflects a shift to include unmarried children in joint flat applications with their parents for better intergenerational living support.

• Mr. Louis Ng asked whether the Ministry has data on the number of prosecutions against parents for breaching bond terms under Care and Protection Orders over the past five years.
• Minister Masagos Zulkifli stated that from 2019 to 2023, there were no prosecutions for such breaches.
• The Ministry noted that most parents comply with bond terms, and for non-compliance, they first discuss consequences before taking statutory steps to safeguard the child if necessary.

• About half of co-owned HDB flats involved in divorces from 2021 to 2023 were sold on the open market, while the other half were transferred to one divorced party.
• A small number of flats were surrendered to HDB because neither party could retain them and they were not eligible for open market sale.
• Approximately 12,800 divorcees bought a resale flat or booked a new flat during this period, but HDB does not track whether they had previously sold a matrimonial flat.

• The government provides salary reimbursement for parental leave at up to $2,500 per week or $10,000 per month to help employers manage costs and consider hiring temporary workers.
• New notice periods of at least four weeks for leave and restrictions on changing leave arrangements after the first four weeks give employers more certainty for manpower planning.
• Employers can use resources from the Institute for Human Resource Professionals to improve HR capabilities and design flexible work arrangements, such as part-time leave, to cover absent employees and expand the manpower pool.

• Assoc Prof Razwana Begum asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development to respond to a study on the long-term economic and social costs of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), with follow-up questions on how social services expenditure guides policy and how social workers and families are equipped to address ACEs early.
• The Ministry acknowledged the study's findings that ACEs lead to higher health and productivity costs, and emphasized strengthening family resilience through upstream interventions while noting that community and government support is needed for those with severe ACEs.
• The Ministry is working with ground partners on evidence-based trauma interventions, collaborations with the Singapore Prison Service, and programmes to support children affected by parental separation, using research to inform and assess the effectiveness of these interventions.

Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked about the impact of reducing the gender pay gap on female labour force participation, specifically regarding potential increases with each percentage point decline and the effect of complete elimination. Gan Kim Yong responded that the Monetary Authority of Singapore's study indicates a 1-percentage point decrease in the gender wage gap is linked to a 0.2 percentage point rise in the female labour force participation rate and a 0.1 percentage point rise in the overall rate. Singapore already has a high female labour force participation rate of 62.6%, above the OECD average. Other factors, such as educational improvements and family-friendly work environments, also play significant roles in influencing participation rates and narrowing the gender wage gap.

Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about the average monthly fees charged by government-supported and private preschools, the differences in government funding per child for both types of preschools, and how quality is ensured across them. Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that government spending per preschool child has significantly increased, with higher expenditures for government-supported preschools and children from lower-income families. Additional funding for Anchor and Partner Operators is aimed at enhancing access to affordable preschool options, with fee caps for these operators set significantly lower than the median fees of private preschools. Plans are in place to increase the number of government-supported preschool places, targeting 80% enrollment by 2025, and initiatives for professional development and quality assurance have been established to benefit all preschools.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang requested information on the top five forms of emotional neglect identified by the Child Protective Service over the past five years. Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that the Ministry of Social and Family Development categorizes child abuse into four main types: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional and psychological abuse. Additionally, emotional and psychological abuse is not subdivided into further categories.