Family & gender — Topics

7 Feb 2024

Statistics of Menopausal Hormonal Treatment Received by Singaporean Females

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Ministry of Health for statistics on Singaporean women receiving menopausal hormonal treatment in public hospitals, including numbers and subsidised treatment proportions from 2013–2017 and 2018–2023.
Ong Ye Kung responded that the Ministry does not track the specific number of female Singapore Citizens receiving this treatment.
He stated that all Singaporeans referred to public Specialist Outpatient Clinics and assessed as needing menopausal hormonal treatment are eligible for subsidies.

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7 Feb 2024

Success Rates for Assisted Reproductive Technology Treatments at Public Hospitals

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary confirmed that public assisted reproductive technology (ART) centres have higher success rates than private centres, with the difference within 10%, making them comparable.
Louis Ng asked if the Ministry is tracking an increasing trend in people using private ART centres and whether subsidies for private clinics are being considered, noting it is a new year.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary replied that data on the trend of patients using private centres is not available and that extending subsidies to private ART centres is still under study with no timeline provided.

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6 Feb 2024

Approving Creation of Trust Over HDB Flat and Protecting Parents' Interest when Relations Break Down

Murali Pillai inquired about HDB's exercise of discretion under section 58(9) of the Housing Development Act to approve trusts over HDB flats in the past five years, and whether HDB would allow trust interests that protect parents who fund their children's flat purchases in exchange for co-living, especially during relationship breakdowns.
Desmond Lee stated that HDB requires prior written approval for any trust over an HDB flat to prevent circumvention of rules, and it may allow trusts on a case-by-case basis, such as for minor children after parental death or divorce, with the flat transferred to the child at age 21 under the Civil Law Act.
Over the past five years, HDB approved 99 requests for creating trusts over HDB flats.
For parents providing funds for their children's HDB flat purchases with the expectation of co-living, HDB recommends co-ownership as a more direct way to protect parental interests during relationship breakdowns, eliminating the need for trusts.

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6 Feb 2024

Statistics on Infants on Waitlist for Place at Infant Care Centre

The Ministry tracks infant care waitlists, with waiting times typically ranging from a few weeks to several months depending on centre availability and parental preferences.
In 2023, there were about 14,600 infant care places, with 72% occupied, and some districts faced tighter supply due to COVID-19 delays and higher demand, though efforts have reduced these areas.
The Early Childhood Development Agency is working to add over 1,500 new infant care places in 2024 and plans to continue expanding supply beyond that year.

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6 Feb 2024

Statistics of Financial Abuse and Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults Reported in Past Five Years and Current Preventive Measures

The Ministry of Social and Family Development reported that its Adult Protective Service investigated between five and 18 cases of alleged financial abuse of vulnerable adults annually over the past five years, with perpetrators commonly being immediate family members such as adult children forcing parents to monetize assets or withdraw money without consent.
Existing preventive measures include industry guidelines for frontline professionals like banking staff to detect signs of financial abuse, and recourse options for victims include civil lawsuits to recover assets and potential criminal liability for perpetrators, alongside support from Family Service Centres and the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline.
The Ministry emphasized that financial abuse is an emerging issue with negative effects on victims and the community, and social workers may identify cases while assisting clients facing family violence.

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6 Feb 2024

Update on Child Development Account Not Being Matched to CPF Ordinary Account Interest Rate

Leong Mun Wai asked why CDA interest rates are not pegged to CPF OA rates and if the government could encourage banks to match them.
Masagos Zulkifli clarified that the CDA is a spending account for child-raising costs and its interest rates are set by banks based on commercial considerations, not comparable to CPF OA.
The government does not set CDA interest rates but provides dollar-for-dollar matching on deposits up to a cap to support parents.

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6 Feb 2024

Plans to Meet Future Increases in Demand for Preschool Places and Early Childhood Educators

The Government has significantly expanded preschool capacity, with over 200,000 full-day places now available, sufficient for all resident children aged three and above, and aims for 80% of places to be government-supported by 2025.
The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) plans for future demand by tracking birth projections and works with the Housing and Development Board to develop new childcare centres in new housing estates and activate spaces in older estates for additional capacity.
The Government estimates 1,500 more early childhood educators will be needed and is taking steps to attract and retain them, including salary reviews and moving preschools to a five-day week by 2025.
To support the sector, parents are encouraged to appreciate educators and set reasonable expectations, such as regarding communication outside working hours, to help make the profession more attractive.

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6 Feb 2024

Counselling for Couples undergoing Assisted Reproduction Technology Treatment at Public Hospitals

Counselling for couples undergoing assisted reproduction technology at public hospitals covers key procedural information, psychosocial support, and is tailored to each couple’s needs.
The counselling topics include managing stress, anxiety, and expectations related to the treatment.
Couples are referred for counselling upon request or if practitioners assess the need, though the mean number of sessions is not tracked by the Ministry of Health.

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6 Feb 2024

Study of Fertility Leave for Public Service Officers

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Prime Minister for an update on the study of fertility leave for public servants or, if none was conducted, for such a study to be undertaken.
The Prime Minister's representative responded that introducing fertility leave as a separate provision is not necessary at this time.
Public officers undergoing fertility-related procedures can already use existing leave types, such as outpatient sick leave or hospitalisation leave.
Officers can also request flexible work arrangements like flexi-time or hybrid work to attend or recover from treatments.
This means the government currently relies on current leave policies and flexibility rather than creating a new fertility leave category.

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5 Feb 2024

Statistics on Appeals from Singles for Waiver of Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty

In 2022 and 2023, IRAS received 23 appeals from Singaporean singles for waiving Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty when switching homes.
The majority of these appeals were approved due to extenuating personal circumstances, such as needing to purchase a replacement property for themselves and their child after a spouse's demise.
Each appeal is considered holistically based on its specific facts and circumstances.

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5 Feb 2024

Strategies to Encourage Firms to Implement Additional Paternity Leave and Ensuring Compliance

The government has doubled the Government-Paid Paternity Leave from two to four weeks, with the additional two weeks currently voluntary to allow employers time to adjust to economic and manpower challenges.
Employers who voluntarily provide the extra two weeks are reimbursed by the government, and plans are in place to make the additional leave mandatory as soon as possible to ensure a seamless transition.
Once mandatory, non-compliance will be an offence under the Child Development Co-Savings Act, with employees able to file disputes through the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management.
The government is working with employers, tripartite partners, and community groups like the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises and Centre for Fathering to promote family-friendly workplace practices and support fathers’ involvement.

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5 Feb 2024

Child Safeguarding Framework to Ensure Safety and Security Measures in Childcare Sector

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development whether it would collaborate with the early childhood sector to develop a Child Safeguarding Framework as part of the safety review.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that a multi-layered safeguarding system already exists under the Early Childhood Development Centres Act, Regulations, and a Code of Practice, and the focus is on implementation rather than new frameworks.
The Early Childhood Development Agency is strengthening regulations and the Code of Practice, reviewing penalty provisions for errant operators, and enhancing training curricula to better equip educators in ensuring child safety.

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5 Feb 2024

Tracking Number of Women and Men Who Have Undergone Fertility Screening at Public and Private Hospitals

Louis Ng asked whether the Ministry of Health would track fertility screening numbers for both genders across public and private hospitals, and if not, why not.
The Ministry of Health currently tracks screening for nationally recommended health screenings but has no plans to do so for fertility assessments.
Fertility screening is considered individualized to the couple’s circumstances, such as age, rather than suitable for general population tracking.
Couples are advised to seek medical advice from polyclinics, general practitioners, or fertility specialists based on specific age and conception timelines.

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5 Feb 2024

Increasing Childcare Leave for Parents to Match Additional Number of Preschool Holidays

Gan Thiam Poh asked if the Ministry would increase childcare leave by two days to match additional preschool holidays from 2024.
Masagos Zulkifli clarified that there is a net increase of only 0.5 preschool closure days, not two additional days, and parents already have up to 12 days of paid childcare leave annually.
The Minister emphasized that beyond legislated leave, promoting flexible work arrangements and family-friendly workplace practices is more sustainable and important for supporting working parents.

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5 Feb 2024

Administration of Muslim Law (Amendment) Bill

The Bill amends the Administration of Muslim Law Act to strengthen Singapore's Muslim institutions by enabling MUIS to create a community wakaf fund for long-term socio-religious needs and to enhance its management of halal certification for imported food.
It introduces digitalisation for the Registry of Muslim Marriages and Syariah Court, such as digital marriage certificates and streamlined divorce processes, while preserving Islamic law principles.
The amendments expand the Fatwa Committee's membership and discretion, define Muslim religious schools for better regulation, and align the Syariah Court's powers with family justice standards to ensure fairer divorce outcomes.
Member of Parliament Sharael Taha supported the Bill but sought clarifications on potential foreign influence in wakaf contributions and the practical implementation of foreign halal certification standards.

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10 Jan 2024

Rationale for Non-provision of Similar Infant Care or Childcare Subsidy for Non-working Mothers with Children Enrolled in Licensed Childcare Centres

Leong Mun Wai questioned the rationale for not providing non-working mothers with the same childcare subsidies as working mothers for children under seven in licensed centres.
Masagos Zulkifli explained that working mothers receive higher subsidies due to their need for childcare while at work, but non-working mothers can apply for equivalent support under specific circumstances like illness or job-seeking.
Families under HDB rental or ComCare schemes automatically qualify for maximum preschool subsidies regardless of the mother’s working status.
Non-working mothers can also access half-day kindergarten subsidies that are not dependent on employment.
The government plans to extend full childcare subsidies to all lower-income families based on income tiers, with more details to come.

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10 Jan 2024

HDB 3-room Flats Rented Out under Public Rental Scheme

Pritam Singh asked the Minister for National Development for the number of 3-room HDB flats rented under the Public Rental Scheme and those still available.
Desmond Lee responded that about 200 public rental households currently live in 3-room flats and 40 such flats are available for allocation.
The HDB collaborates with the Ministry of Social and Family Development and Family Service Centres to offer 3-room rental flats to large families with children under the ComLink Rental Scheme, providing holistic social support.

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10 Jan 2024

Additional Co-funding at Reduced Percentages for Assisted Conception Procedures at Public Institutions for Unsuccessful Couples

Louis Ng asked whether the Health Ministry would consider additional co-funding at reduced rates for couples who have exhausted their existing co-funding for Assisted Conception Procedures (ACP) at public institutions for a first child.
The current co-funding limit of three fresh and three frozen cycles is based on clinical evidence showing declining success rates with successive cycles and with increasing maternal age, balancing public support with prudent use of funds.
The Ministry will monitor new data on outcomes from further cycles and maintains the six-cycle limit to ensure equitable treatment across all couples, regardless of family size.

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10 Jan 2024

Safeguards to Ensure Suitability of Adults who Foster or Adopt Children who Have Endured Traumatic Past

The Ministry of Social and Family Development conducts comprehensive assessments, background checks, and home studies for prospective adopters, with special attention to the ability to care for children with traumatic pasts, and appoints a Guardian-in-Adoption to oversee the process.
Social workers and professionals receive compulsory training to recognize signs of abuse and must conduct supervised visitations and check-ins, though the Minister acknowledged the need for community vigilance, as seen in the case where a teacher reported abuse.
The Ministry is developing standardized assessment tools and enhancing training for frontline professionals and volunteers to better detect and respond to abuse, while emphasizing public awareness and the role of teachers and community members in protecting children.

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9 Jan 2024

Assistance for Parents Following Return of a Child to Biological Family After Being Placed in Place of Safety or Foster Home

Louis Ng asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about the assistance given to parents after a child is returned from a place of safety or foster home and the median duration of such assistance over the past five years.
The Minister responded that case officers and community partners provide support for 12 months or more after the child’s return, with the exact duration and type tailored to each family’s circumstances.
Assistance includes regular safety checks, monitoring, and referrals to community agencies for case management, counselling, parenting support, as well as financial and employment aid.

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