Family & gender — Topics

2 Apr 2024

Building a Culture of Gender Equality

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum highlighted that gender inequality deeply affects all aspects of life in Singapore and proposed engaging men and boys as equal partners, promoting male role models, empowering men to take on caregiving roles, and establishing a National Gender Equality Framework to foster a culture of equality.
Minister of State Sun Xueling emphasized the government’s commitment to gender equality through policies, education, and workplace initiatives, noting progress in women’s development and the need for partnership with men, including enhanced paternity leave and efforts to encourage men in caregiving professions.
Both speakers agreed that building a culture of gender equality requires a whole-of-society approach, starting from families and extending to schools, workplaces, and communities, with a focus on changing mindsets and norms through collaboration between men and women.

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7 Mar 2024

Attendance at Appointments with Family Coaches by Recipients of ComLink+ Enhanced Package

Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked about the percentage of ComLink+ families who have met their family coaches and the expected frequency of future check-ins, as well as the average monthly pre-school fees for eligible households.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary explained that family coaches contact new families within one month and check-ins occur every one to two months based on need, with a focus on outcomes rather than visit counts.
He clarified that the ComLink+ Packages, including preschool subsidies, have not yet been rolled out and are scheduled for launch in the second half of 2024.
He noted that all Singaporean children in public rental flats, including ComLink+ families, automatically qualify for maximum preschool subsidies, costing $3 per month for full-day childcare or $1 per month for half-day kindergarten at designated operators.

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7 Mar 2024

Factors to Determine Number of Lactation Rooms in Institutes of Higher Learning

Ms Gan Siow Huang explained that the number of lactation rooms in Institutes of Higher Learning is determined not only by campus size but also by factors such as the age profile of the workforce and the proximity of the rooms to workspaces, and she noted that comparing average campus area per room is not meaningful due to varying campus functions.
Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for the average number of lactation rooms per university, polytechnic, and ITE campus, and highlighted that teachers face time constraints because they cannot express milk while teaching, leading to requests for more rooms and concerns about queuing.
Ms Gan Siow Huang emphasized that each IHL provides multiple lactation rooms and that accessibility from workspaces is prioritized over comparing average room counts or campus areas, underscoring the importance of convenience for nursing mothers.

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6 Mar 2024

Committee of Supply – Head I (Ministry of Social and Family Development)

The debate focused on enhancing family support, with MSF announcing a month-long National Family Festival to strengthen family bonds and plans to expand the Families for Life movement to more towns.
MSF outlined new initiatives for lower-income families, including the ComLink+ programme with family coaches and progress packages to empower social mobility, while also expanding preschool subsidies and childminding services.
For persons with disabilities, MSF committed to increasing employment and care services, including extending the Place-and-Train programme and launching Enabling Services Hubs, while reviewing the Enabling Masterplan 2030 annually for relevance.

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5 Mar 2024

Data on Single Unwed Parents' Age at Birth of Child

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for statistics on the age of single unwed parents at the birth of their child from 2022 onwards.
The Minister provided data for 2022 showing 540 citizen mothers with non-marital births below 35 years old, 22 aged 35 to 36, and 141 aged 36 and above.
The Minister noted that data for 2023 is not yet available.

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4 Mar 2024

Applications from Single Unwed Parents to Purchase or Rent HDB Flats

Louis Ng asked the Ministry for National Development for statistics over the past two years on HDB flat applications and rejections by single unwed parents, and the reasons for rejections.
Desmond Lee responded that HDB evaluates requests holistically, allowing single unwed parents aged 21 and above who can afford it to buy up to a 3-room flat in non-mature estates or resale flats, while those unable to buy may be offered public rental if it benefits the child, with input from social workers.
Over the past two years, HDB supported about 72% of requests from single unwed parents to purchase a flat, with remaining cases involving applicants who did not proceed or lacked sufficient funds.
HDB assisted around 46% of requests from single unwed parents to rent a public rental flat over the same period, with the rest including those who did not follow through, could afford to buy, or had family housing options.

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4 Mar 2024

Trend of Couples Seeking Assisted Reproductive Technology Treatment at Private Clinics

There is an increasing trend of couples seeking Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatment at private clinics from 2018 to 2022, though the majority still use public clinics.
The Ministry of Health has data showing the proportion of women choosing private ART centres has increased over this period.
The debate focused on whether the Ministry collects and intends to collect data on ART trends at private clinics.

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4 Mar 2024

Annual Median and Average Monthly Income of Single Unwed Parents

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for the annual median and average monthly incomes of single unwed parents across three age groups over the past three years.
The Minister responded that average monthly incomes for working citizen mothers with non-marital births increased from 2020 to 2022, with younger mothers (below 35) earning lower amounts due to part-time or seasonal work.
Median incomes also rose over the period, but data for the single age band of 35-36 years old is unavailable due to small population size, and 2023 figures are not yet available.

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1 Mar 2024

Costs of Counselling at Public Hospitals for Couples Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Treatment

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health for the mean and median costs of counselling at public hospitals for couples undergoing assisted reproductive treatment over the past five years.
Ong Ye Kung provided a table showing the average charges for counselling at public Assisted Reproduction centres for couples before their first ART treatment.

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1 Mar 2024

Number of Births from Women above 30 Years Old

Ms Ng Ling Ling asked for the proportion of births from women aged 30 and below, 31–35, and 36 and above for the past three years, with the Prime Minister’s Office replying that in 2021 and 2022, these proportions were around 33%, 44%, and 23% respectively.
The Minister noted that 2023 figures are still being finalised and that the annual data is published in the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s Report on the Registration of Births and Deaths.
Ms Ng Ling Ling highlighted that many women aged 31–35 may not be aware of fertility health challenges and complications, and she asked if the Ministry would invest in longitudinal research on young women’s awareness and attitudes toward fertility to address the low total fertility rate.
The Minister acknowledged the request and explained that declining birth rates are a global trend influenced by opportunity costs and personal milestones, emphasising the need to create a society that supports family formation and parenthood.

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1 Mar 2024

Babies Born to Teenage Mothers in Past Five Years and Assistance Provided

Mr Louis Ng requested annual statistics over the past five years on babies born to mothers under 14, 14–15, and 16–19, and asked what assistance is provided to these families, noting that existing reports lack the specific breakdown he sought.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary replied that detailed data is in the ICA’s Annual Report and outlined support for pregnant minor mothers, including a multidisciplinary team, follow-up care, community referrals, ComCare assistance via Social Service Offices, and enrollment in KidSTART and Family Service Centres.
Mr Ng pressed for the specific breakdown and asked whether a dedicated social worker journeys with teenage mothers and for how long, citing a case of a child now in a Girls’ Home whose mother gave birth at 15.
The official responded that the requested statistics require a further PQ to the Ministry of Home Affairs, and emphasized a “village” approach where stakeholders—medical staff, family, teachers, and others—raise alerts to enable tailored, wrap-around support rather than a fixed assignment of a single social worker.
Mr Ng clarified whether a medical social worker typically initiates contact at birth or if a social worker could engage the teenage mother from the point of delivery, and the official reiterated that any stakeholder can alert agencies to trigger multi-dimensional, case-specific support.

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29 Feb 2024

Evaluation Criteria Determining Safety of Child Returned to Families Post-placement in Place of Safety

Case officers evaluate the parents' ability to provide safe care, family stability, living environment, support network involvement, and progress in case intervention to determine a child's safety post-reunification.
Evaluations are based on home visits, separate and joint engagement with parents and child, updated professional assessments, and corroborated information from the support network, avoiding reliance on assurances alone.
If no safety concerns are found, ongoing monitoring and support are provided; if concerns arise, actions include involving trusted adults or using statutory powers to remove the child.

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28 Feb 2024

Single Unwed Parents Applying for Interim Housing under Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme in 2023

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development about the number of single unwed parents who applied for interim housing under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme in 2023 and the outcomes of those applications.
In 2023, eight single unwed parents applied for the scheme, with four assisted by HDB with Interim Rental Housing.
Of the remaining four applicants, one was invited to select a flat but did not, while three were unsuccessful in the ballot.

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28 Feb 2024

Update on Timeline for Dedicated Lactation Room in Schools and Tertiary Education Institutions

Louis Ng Kok Kwang queried the Ministry of Education about the timeline for installing dedicated lactation rooms in schools and tertiary institutions that currently lack them.
Chan Chun Sing referred Ng to a prior parliamentary reply from 3 October 2023, which provided written details on the percentage of institutions with existing lactation facilities.
The exchange highlights the government's ongoing efforts but does not specify a new timeline for institutions without facilities.
The debate underscores the focus on supporting nursing mothers in educational settings through improved facilities.
The response suggests reliance on existing data and indicates that further updates may be found in official reports.

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28 Feb 2024

Committee of Supply – Head U (Prime Minister's Office)

Members raised concerns about Singapore's climate vulnerabilities, including the need for regional energy cooperation, preparing for extreme weather, and the economic risks posed by the Northern Sea Route, while seeking updates on net-zero targets and green finance initiatives.
Debates on demographic challenges highlighted the record-low fertility rate, strategies to support marriage and parenthood, the role of immigration in mitigating workforce decline, and calls for better integration of migrant workers and support for ageing populations.
Discussions on public service reforms focused on equipping officers with skills for complex global challenges, improving citizen-centric service delivery, and enhancing partnerships through initiatives like the Singapore Government Partnerships Office and Public Service for Good movement.

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27 Feb 2024

Waiting Time for Couples to Attend Assisted Reproductive Treatment Clinics at Public Hospitals

Louis Ng asked for the mean and median waiting hours for couples attending assisted reproductive treatment appointments at public hospitals over the past two years, or if not tracked, whether the Ministry would consider doing so.
Ong Ye Kung responded that the Ministry of Health does not track waiting times during appointments at public hospitals.
The Ministry instead tracks wait times to the date of the appointment as a more meaningful indicator of accessibility for assisted reproductive treatment.
This approach is used because almost all patients seeking this treatment are on appointments, making the wait to the appointment date a key measure.

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16 Feb 2024

Number and Profile of Cases Handled by Family Service Centres and Number of Social Workers Employed at These Centres

Louis Ng asked for the number of Group 2, 3, and 4 cases handled by Family Service Centres and the number of social workers employed in FY2021 and FY2022.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary replied that cases decreased from about 20,500 in FY2021 to 18,900 in FY2022, with social workers remaining stable at about 1,000 across both years.
Louis Ng expressed concern about increasing caseloads and asked if there are sufficient social workers and plans to address any shortfall.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary clarified that caseloads actually decreased between FY2021 and FY2022, correcting the Member's assumption.

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16 Feb 2024

Appeals by Younger Singaporeans Married to Non-Long-Term Visit Pass Holders to Buy HDB Flats or to Rent Flats under Public Rental Scheme

From 2019 to 2023, HDB received about 160 appeals annually from Singaporeans below 35 married to non-resident spouses seeking to buy or rent HDB flats, with an average of 13 appeals approved per year based on holistic case-by-case assessment.
The Minister outlined that SC-NR couples without a child who is an SC or SPR can use the Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme to buy resale flats, with specific age and LTVP/Work Pass conditions, but do not qualify for public rental unless in exceptional circumstances.
A Member questioned why spouses with Long-Term Visit Passes (LTVP) are not eligible under the Family Scheme like SPRs, to which the Minister responded that resources are prioritized for Singaporean families, but LTVP holders can still buy resale flats and appeals are considered flexibly.

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7 Feb 2024

Trends for Women Suffering from Arthralgia

Gerald Giam Yean Song inquired about the prevalence of arthralgia in women, its changes from 2013 to 2023, and the Ministry's efforts on awareness and early detection, particularly linked to menopause.
Ong Ye Kung stated the Ministry does not track the number of women with joint pain, as arthralgia is a symptom of various conditions including menopause, infections, and injuries.
He noted that hospitals like KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and National University Hospital have conducted media outreach to raise awareness of menopause and its symptoms, including arthralgia.
The Ministry plans to rely on future studies, such as an upcoming clinical study by the Integrated Women's Health Programme, to improve care models for menopausal women and explore treatments like curated exercises and estrogen therapy.
The response emphasized a data-driven approach to develop better programmes for menopausal women's health, while acknowledging current awareness efforts through existing medical institutions.

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7 Feb 2024

Organisations with Programmes and Benefits for Female Workers with Menopausal-related Health Issues

The Ministry of Health does not have specific data on how many organisations in Singapore offer programmes or benefits for female workers with menopause-related health issues.
Support for women experiencing menopause is available through public educational resources on platforms like HealthHub and healthcare institution websites.
Interest groups such as “Dynamic Daisies” under KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital promote awareness and support for women undergoing menopause.
Women are encouraged to consult their regular family doctor or gynaecologist to manage menopause-related health issues.

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