Family & gender — Topics

4 Oct 2023

Flexible Work Arrangements for All

Chua Kheng Wee Louis calls for legislation to make flexible work arrangements (FWAs) a legal right for all employees, citing declining FWA adoption post-COVID, the need to support parents and caregivers, and addressing Singapore's low fertility rate and ageing population.
The government, through Minister of State Gan Siow Huang, agrees on the importance of FWAs but prefers a collaborative, tripartite approach with new guidelines in 2024, cautioning against rigid legislation that could harm workplace culture and productivity.
Both sides emphasize that FWAs benefit talent retention, employee well-being, and gender equality, but differ on whether legal mandates are necessary versus voluntary guidelines and employer-employee dialogue.

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3 Oct 2023

Offices, Business Parks and Mixed Developments' Non-compliance with Provision on Lactation Rooms under BCA's Code on Accessibility in Built Environment 2019

Mr. Louis Ng asked the Minister for National Development for data on the number and percentage of non-compliant offices, business parks, and mixed developments with lactation room requirements under the 2019 BCA Code over the past five years.
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) mandates lactation rooms in offices, business parks, and mixed developments with a gross floor area of 10,000 m² or more, as per the 2019 Code on Accessibility.
The 2019 Code has been in effect since 2020, requiring compliance for new buildings and those undergoing major addition and alteration works.
BCA has not granted any exemptions to the lactation room requirements since the 2019 Code's implementation.
The response did not provide the specific compliance data requested by Mr. Ng for the past five years.

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3 Oct 2023

Results of Survey of Preschool Operators Administered in Mid-2022

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development to release the anonymized results of a mid-2022 survey of preschool operators.
The Early Childhood Development Agency surveyed over 800 preschool operators about CCTV deployment, finding that more than 60% had installed cameras, mainly for security, child safety, and internal investigations.
Preschools without CCTV cited concerns about the privacy of children and staff as their primary reason for not installing cameras.
The agency has mandated CCTV installation in all preschools from 1 July 2024, issuing guidelines to balance security with privacy protections.
The ministry committed to working with operators to ensure the implementation of CCTV cameras protects the privacy of children, staff, and others in preschool premises.

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3 Oct 2023

Percentage of Schools and Tertiary Institutions with Lactation Facilities for Nursing Mothers

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Ministry of Education about the percentage of schools and tertiary institutions with lactation rooms and suitable rooms for nursing mothers.
Chan Chun Sing stated that 95% of primary schools, 80% of secondary schools, and 90% of junior colleges/centralised institutes have lactation rooms, while the remaining schools have suitable rooms.
The Ministry is working with the remaining schools to set up dedicated lactation rooms.
All autonomous universities, polytechnics, and Institutes of Technical Education campuses have at least one lactation room.

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3 Oct 2023

Number of Women who Suffer from Postnatal Post‐traumatic Stress Disorder

Member Melvin Yong asked the Ministry of Health about the annual percentage of women with postnatal PTSD over the past five years and how doctors and nurses in public hospitals are trained to recognize its signs.
Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that KKH and NUH each see only a handful of postnatal PTSD cases yearly, representing a very small percentage of total childbirths.
KKH and NUH train healthcare professionals to identify and manage mental health issues in prenatal and postnatal patients, with KKH providing trauma-focused interventions since 2020 and NUH routinely screening for mental health concerns.

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3 Oct 2023

Safeguards to Ensure Safety of Fostered Children Who are Returned to Their Original Homes

The Ministry of Social and Family Development continually reviews safeguards and has implemented measures such as the National Family Violence Networking System and enhanced Penal Code protections to support children reunified with their families.
After reunification, Foster Care Officers conduct regular safety checks and monitoring for at least 12 months, with the duration tailored to each family's needs.
Since 2020, the Ministry has expanded training for over 7,100 individuals to detect and report family violence and strengthened community coordination to track children's well-being.
The Ministry notes that child abuse incidence rates remain low but emphasizes the importance of public vigilance and reporting through the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline.

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3 Oct 2023

Income Tax (Amendment) Bill

Keith Chua highlighted Denmark’s collaborative and trust-based societal model, suggesting Singapore adopt a longer runway for philanthropy and consider co-creation in policy-making to support an aging population and collaborative giving.
Nadia Ahmad Samdin discussed aligning tax policy with international standards, sought clarity on the Enterprise Innovation Scheme and philanthropy incentives, and emphasized the need for public discourse on taxation to balance social harmony and economic progress.
Yip Hon Weng raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Enterprise Innovation Scheme for SMEs, potential disincentives from changes to the Working Mother’s Child Relief scheme, and the implementation of income reporting for self-employed persons.
Louis Ng advocated for extending Working Mother’s Child Relief to single unwed parents and broadening philanthropic tax incentives to encourage giving at all societal levels, not just for high-net-worth individuals.
Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat responded to clarifications on tax measures, affirming that changes to foreign-sourced gains target tax avoidance without affecting genuine businesses, and outlining enhancements to support enterprises, working mothers, and Singapore’s role as a philanthropy hub.

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19 Sep 2023

MediSave Withdrawal Limits for In-vitro Fertility Treatments

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether the Ministry of Health has reviewed the MediSave withdrawal limits for in-vitro fertility (IVF) treatments and whether it would consider increasing them.
Ong Ye Kung stated that current financing schemes are adequate, with government co-funding of up to 75% and MediSave withdrawal limits of $6,000 per cycle and $15,000 lifetime per patient.
He noted that after co-funding and MediSave use, eight in 10 eligible couples have no out-of-pocket expense and nine in 10 pay no more than $500.
The Ministry of Health will continue to monitor affordability and review financing schemes if needed.

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19 Sep 2023

Data on Caregiver Grants and CPF Top-ups Received by Stay-at-home Parents

Hazel Poa asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development for data on stay-at-home parents, including how many received caregiver grants and CPF top-ups, and the median CPF top-up amount.
The Minister responded that there is no official definition of stay-at-home parents, and suggested using a proxy of residents not in the labor force due to caring for children under 12.
Data on this proxy group is available in the annual Labour Force in Singapore report from the Ministry of Manpower.
The Government does not have further information on how many of these individuals received caregiver grants or CPF top-ups from loved ones.
No median CPF top-up amount was provided due to the lack of detailed data.

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19 Sep 2023

Training of Early Childhood Educators to Include Definition of Mistreatment or Abuse of Children

Miss Rachel Ong asked whether the training of early childhood educators includes a clear definition of child mistreatment or abuse, noting that educators may have differing standards on what constitutes abuse.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M referred to a prior reply on this matter from a parliamentary session on 18 September 2023.
The referenced reply addressed concerns about investigations into alleged mistreatment at preschool centres and was part of the Official Report for that date.

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19 Sep 2023

Protocols and Platforms for Reporting Alleged Abuse of Children in Childcare Centres

Miss Rachel Ong inquired about the existence, details, and potential creation of protocols and platforms for whistle-blowers, especially childcare staff, to report alleged abuse or negligence by centre managers and principals.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M referred to a previous parliamentary reply from September 18, 2023, indicating that the matter had already been addressed in a specific update on investigations into alleged mistreatment at a preschool chain.
The debate highlights a focus on ensuring safe and confidential reporting channels for staff to raise concerns about child welfare in childcare centres.

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19 Sep 2023

Protocols in Place for Reporting Abuse of Children in Preschools

Dr Wan Rizal inquired about the protocols for reporting and investigating incidents where parents report that their children return home from preschool with injuries, and how parents are informed and involved in these processes.
The Minister for Social and Family Development referred to a prior reply on this matter, directing attention to an official report from September 18, 2023, regarding investigations into alleged mistreatment at a preschool chain.

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19 Sep 2023

Ensuring Safety and Well-being of Children in Early Childhood Space

Mr Don Wee inquired about the oversight and enforcement mechanisms, including independent inspections, that protect young children in childcare centres, kindergartens, and school buses without mandatory CCTV installations.
Minister Masagos Zulkifli referenced a prior parliamentary reply on investigations into alleged mistreatment at preschool centres, indicating that details on safety measures are addressed in that official report.
The exchange highlights the government's reliance on existing inspection frameworks and documented responses rather than implementing new mandatory surveillance for child safety.

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19 Sep 2023

Plans for Improving ECDA's Oversight of Staff and Management of Preschools and Childcare Centres

The Minister for Social and Family Development clarified that plans to improve ECDA's oversight and reporting policies were addressed in a previous parliamentary reply dated 18 September 2023, as referenced in the Official Report.
The discussion focuses on enhancing ECDA's ability to detect and deter child abuse or misconduct, with an emphasis on maintaining effective oversight of staff and management at preschools and childcare centres.
Strengthening reporting policies, including measures to encourage and protect whistle-blowers, was noted as a key component of the strategy to improve accountability and child safety.

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19 Sep 2023

Reports of Breaches of Section 33 of Early Childhood Development Centres Regulations 2018

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development for the number of breaches of Section 33 of the Early Childhood Development Centres Regulations 2018 reported in the past three years and how the Ministry uses this data to improve practices across centres.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M directed the question to the official reply provided on 18 September 2023 regarding investigations into alleged mistreatment at a preschool chain, which covers the data and systemic improvements.
The debate focuses on transparency and systemic enhancements in early childhood centres based on reported regulatory breaches.

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19 Sep 2023

Mandatory National Child Safeguarding Standards for Organisations that Provide Services for Children and Young Persons

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Ministry will develop and implement mandatory national child safeguarding standards for organisations providing services for children and young persons.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that the question was addressed in a previous reply to Oral Questions on 18 September 2023, directing attention to the Official Report on investigations into alleged mistreatment at preschool centres.
The debate highlights a parliamentary inquiry about establishing enforceable national standards for child safety across all service providers for young people.
The government's reply indicates that the matter has already been addressed in a specific prior session, referencing an investigation into preschool centres as the context.

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19 Sep 2023

Increasing Range of Early Identification, Intervention and Support Programmes for Families with Special Needs Children

The Ministry has strengthened early identification through developmental screenings, subsidized services, and Inclusion Coordinators in all preschools by end-2023.
A variety of early intervention programmes exist for different age groups and support levels, and caregiver engagement is provided to equip parents with skills to support their children at home.
Support resources like the Parents’ Guide and Step One programme have been launched to help caregivers access information and connect with support networks.
The Ministry of Education collaborates with healthcare and special education providers to align assessments and offers forums and festivals to educate parents on school options.
The government aims to continue engaging stakeholders to ensure robust early identification, intervention, and caregiver education, while encouraging community support for families with special needs children.

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19 Sep 2023

Expansion of Household Services Scheme’s Pilot Programme to Include Child- and Elder-minding Services

Yeo Wan Ling asked for an update on the expansion of the Household Services Scheme’s pilot programme to include child-minding and elder-minding services.
The Ministry of Manpower launched a two-year pilot programme in March 2023 to include these services, with 25 companies participating and serving over 300 families.
Half of the companies provide both child-minding and elder-minding services, while the other half provide one of them.
The pilot is in early stages, with companies expected to scale up, and MOM will monitor and assess its effectiveness nearer the end of the pilot.

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19 Sep 2023

Support for Social Service Agencies to Increase Number of Special Student Care Centres

The Ministry of Social and Family Development has plans to support Social Service Agencies in increasing the number of Special Student Care Centres (SSCCs) to meet growing demand, especially for children with autism spectrum disorder.
Two new SSCCs with 100 places for children with autism were launched in July this year, and more SSCCs will be set up in tandem with the Ministry of Education’s plans to build more Special Education schools.
The Ministry will continue to engage stakeholders, including parents and caregivers, to improve the accessibility and placement of SSCCs across diverse locations in Singapore.

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19 Sep 2023

Lactation Rooms in Schools

Louis Ng asked the Ministry of Education for an update on the percentage of primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools with lactation rooms and whether it can be made compulsory for all institutions.
The Ministry of Education confirmed that all its schools and tertiary institutions already have either a lactation room or a suitable room for nursing mothers.
The debate highlights the government's commitment to supporting nursing mothers in educational workplaces without needing to mandate additional rooms.

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