Family & gender — Topics

19 Sep 2023

Proposal for Differentiated Incentives and Restrictions for HDB BTO Flats Based on Number of Children Per Household

The Ministry is not implementing differentiated incentives or restrictions based on the number of children but is introducing new priority schemes like the First-Timer (Parents and Married Couples) category and expanding the Family and Parenthood Priority Scheme to support young married couples and parents with young children.
The justification for prioritizing families with children over singles and childless couples is to address the more urgent housing needs of parents seeking a conducive environment for their children, as determined through public consultations.
Policies are being adjusted to support single Singaporeans, including increased supply of 2-room flexi flats and more locational options from 2024, while continuing to monitor and engage the public to evolve housing policies for all segments.

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19 Sep 2023

MRT Stations and Bus Interchanges with at least One Lactation Room and Breastfeeding Room

Louis Ng Kok Kwang requested an update on the percentage of MRT stations and bus interchanges with at least one lactation room and breastfeeding room, and asked if it could be made compulsory for all to have one.
As of 31 August 2023, 60% of bus interchanges and all interchange stations on the Thomson-East Coast Line have a baby care room with nursing facilities, and all new stations and interchanges will include them.
For existing MRT stations and bus interchanges, the Land Transport Authority will consider providing baby care rooms during upgrading works, depending on space and technical feasibility.

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19 Sep 2023

Gender Pay Gap for Finance-related Roles and Steps to Close the Gap

The gender pay gap in Singapore’s finance and insurance sector narrowed from 27.1% in 2012 to 15.6% in 2022, with the gap partly due to more men in higher-paying roles like managing directors and fund managers.
The government is addressing the gap by promoting work-life balance through flexible work arrangements and enhanced parental leave schemes to share caregiving responsibilities.
New workplace fairness legislation will strengthen protections against sex, pregnancy, and caregiving discrimination, while mentorship programs like the Advancing Women in Finance Mentoring Programme support women’s career advancement.
Tripartite partners and agencies continue to build a supportive ecosystem to help women enter, remain, and progress in the finance workforce.

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19 Sep 2023

Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill

The Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill proposes extending Government-Paid Paternity Leave from two to four weeks and introducing a Shared Parental Leave scheme allowing parents to share up to eight weeks of maternity leave to better support modern family dynamics and promote shared parenting.
Speakers highlighted the benefits of increased paternity leave for father-child bonding, gender equality, and parental well-being, citing international examples and studies, while also noting concerns from SMEs about operational disruptions and the need for government support.
The Minister of State clarified that the enhancements are voluntary initially, with plans to make them mandatory after consultations, and outlined existing support for gig workers and the self-employed through cash benefits, alongside efforts to address potential misuse and stigma around leave-taking.
Discussions emphasized the importance of fostering a family-friendly workplace culture through awareness campaigns, flexible work arrangements, and collaboration with tripartite partners to balance family support with business needs.
The Bill was passed with broad support, reflecting a commitment to evolving family policies, while acknowledging ongoing reviews to assess impacts on businesses and ensure equitable access to benefits for all working parents.

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18 Sep 2023

Self-Employed Persons Qualified for Government-paid Care Leave Schemes

Ms See Jinli Jean asked for data on self-employed persons qualifying for and claiming Government-paid childcare leave and enhanced childcare leave over the past five years.
Between 2017 and 2021, an average of 33,000 self-employed persons per year qualified for Government-paid childcare leave, with about 20% claiming it.
An average of 26,000 self-employed persons per year qualified for extended childcare leave, with only about 5% claiming it.
The government only pays for the fourth to sixth days of childcare leave, so the first three days are not covered, meaning the claims data does not fully reflect leave utilisation.
The data indicates that while many self-employed persons qualify for these leave schemes, actual claims are relatively low, especially for extended childcare leave.

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18 Sep 2023

Childcare Subsidy for Working Mothers Undergoing Skills Training, Upgrading or Studying to Obtain Certification Pre-employment

Patrick Tay asked whether childcare subsidies for working mothers should be extended to those undergoing skills training, upgrading, or studying for pre-employment certification.
Masagos Zulkifli stated that mothers in training or study are already eligible for preschool subsidies equivalent to working mothers.
He noted they can apply for Special Approval during childcare enrollment or seek assistance from their childcare center.
The current framework already provides support for mothers not yet employed but pursuing skills or education.
The Ministry confirms existing measures address the concern without requiring further extension of subsidies.

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18 Sep 2023

Infant Care and Childcare Assistance on Weekends for Parents on Shift Work and Little Family Support

Joan Pereira requested that the Ministry for Social and Family Development provide more weekend infant and childcare assistance for parents on shift work or with limited family support, and suggested a scheme for part-time nannies like homemakers.
Masagos Zulkifli responded that current options include paid babysitting services and community-based playgroup and enrichment classes at Community Clubs on Saturday mornings.

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18 Sep 2023

Adjusting HDB Flat Balloting System to Accord Weightage to Unsuccessful Attempts in Sale of Balance Flat Exercises

The government has prioritized first-timer families in flat allocation, offering them more ballot chances and setting aside a high percentage of flats for them.
From the next BTO launch, new categories will give three ballot chances to first-timer parents and married couples under 40, along with priority under the Family and Parenthood Priority Scheme.
Additional ballot chances are already provided to first-timer families with two or more unsuccessful BTO applications in non-mature estates, and the system is continually reviewed to support those with greater housing needs.

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18 Sep 2023

Review of Policies to Increase Leave for Parents of Multiple or Pre-term Babies

Louis Ng asked if the Government has reviewed or will review parental leave policies to increase leave for parents of multiple or pre-term babies.
Indranee Rajah, representing the Prime Minister, said the Government regularly reviews such policies and pointed to the 2018 Tripartite Standard on Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs, which allows up to four weeks of additional unpaid leave for parents with pre-term, multiple birth, or other medically needy children under two.
She also highlighted enhancements from the 2023 Budget, including doubled Government-Paid Paternity Leave to four weeks and doubled Unpaid Infant Care Leave to 12 days per parent in the child’s first two years, which these parents can use.
The Government emphasized promoting family-friendly workplace practices through collaboration with tripartite partners rather than solely relying on legislated leave increases.

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18 Sep 2023

Extension of HDB Public Rental Scheme to Families with Large Numbers of Children and Do Not have Realistic Prospect of Purchasing Own Homes

There are about 200 households currently in 3-room rental flats under the Public Rental Scheme, and HDB works with social service agencies to provide 3-room flats to large families with children on a case-by-case basis when they lack family support and housing options.
The government’s approach pairs rental housing with holistic social support, including guidance from Family Service Centres and the ComLink programme, to help families address challenges and build financial stability.
The long-term goal is to uplift rental households so they can eventually purchase their own flat, with substantial grants and one-to-one assistance provided when families are ready for home ownership.

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18 Sep 2023

Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill

The Bill enhances parental leave and benefits by doubling Government-Paid Paternity Leave to four weeks (voluntary initially) and doubling Unpaid Infant Care Leave to 12 days per parent annually, effective from 2024, to support fathers and families.
It clarifies and improves operational efficiency, including simplified revocation processes for Approved Persons and clearer eligibility criteria for benefits like the Government-Paid Paternity Benefit for self-employed fathers.
MPs broadly support the Bill but raise suggestions such as making paternity leave mandatory sooner, introducing childcare sick leave, expanding support for single unwed parents and families with children with special needs, and advocating for flexible work arrangements.
The debate highlights ongoing challenges in achieving work-life balance, low fertility rates, and the need for a whole-of-society effort, including employer support and cultural shifts to normalize paternal involvement.
The Government commits to continued review of family policies, emphasizing the goal of building a "Singapore Made for Families" while balancing economic and operational considerations for businesses.

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18 Sep 2023

Update on Investigations into Alleged Mistreatment of Children at Centres of Preschool Chain

The Ministry of State for Social and Family Development, Ms Sun Xueling, outlined a multi-layered safeguard system involving regulations, training, and enforcement, while announcing mandatory CCTV installation in all preschools by July 2024 to enhance child safety and investigation capabilities.
In response to the Kinderland incidents, ECDA will strengthen investigation protocols, review and potentially enhance penalties for errant operators, and work with training providers to improve educator training on prohibited and positive child management strategies.
The Ministry emphasized support for educators' well-being, including salary uplifts, removal of Saturday operations from 2025, and reviews of non-contact time, while ensuring whistleblowing channels remain accessible and that policies do not hinder reporting of wrongdoing.

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3 Aug 2023

Enrolment Levels in Preschools that Operate on Saturdays

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked for the number and proportion of preschools operating on Saturdays and their total enrolment over the past five years.
Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that all licensed childcare centres must provide Saturday services unless no attendance is recorded for three months.
A September 2022 ECDA survey found about 30% of childcare centres did not operate on Saturdays.
The remaining 70% of centres looked after an average of one to two children on Saturdays.

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3 Aug 2023

Assessing Singaporeans’ Attitudes towards Single Unwed Parents

Mr Louis Ng asked about the statistical and survey indicators used to assess Singaporeans' attitudes toward single unwed parents and whether annual data from the past five years is available.
The Minister responded that annual surveys are not conducted because attitudes do not fluctuate frequently, and occasional surveys show most Singaporeans believe parenthood should occur within marriage.
The Government empathizes with the needs of unwed parents and their children, ensuring they are eligible for all government benefits supporting child development, including education, healthcare, childcare, and other subsidies.

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3 Aug 2023

Rejection of Applications of Spouses of Low-wage and Aged Singaporeans for Long-Term Visit Passes to Work and Fulfil Family Care Needs

Ms Carrie Tan raised concerns about the rejection of Long-Term Visit Pass applications for spouses of low-wage and aged Singaporeans, suggesting a special pass category to address caregiving needs and reduce financial strain on applicants.
The Minister of State for Home Affairs explained that each application is assessed holistically, considering factors like marriage length, children, financial support, and caregiving needs, but no separate pass category is currently needed.
He emphasized that marriage to a Singaporean does not guarantee entry, advised pre-marriage assessments, and highlighted existing government support for such couples, while balancing security and broader societal factors.
Dennis Tan inquired about grounds for rejection beyond financial issues, and the Minister reiterated that individual circumstances and holistic factors are considered, with approvals granted where merited.

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2 Aug 2023

Applications for Long-Term Visit Pass and Re-applications for Pre-Marriage Long-Term Visit Pass Assessment

From 2016 to 2022, ICA processed an annual average of 7,200 LTVP applications from foreign spouses of Singaporeans.
An annual average of 3,000 of these LTVP applicants had previously completed the PMLA before applying.
The figures cover the period from 2016 to the present and are presented as annual averages.

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2 Aug 2023

Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill

The Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill aims to amend the Child Development Co-Savings Act 2001
The amendment was recommended by the President and presented by Minister Masagos Zulkifli
The bill was read for the first time and scheduled for a second reading in the next parliamentary sitting

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6 Jul 2023

Provision of Time-off and Leave Benefits by Companies Adopting Tripartite Standard on Work-Life Harmony

Louis Ng asked for the number and percentage of companies that provided specific leave and time-off benefits beyond statutory requirements over the past two years, including childcare, time-off for parents, pregnancy-related leave, maternity and paternity leave, as well as eldercare and family care leave.
Tan See Leng explained that the Tripartite Standard on Work-Life Harmony recognizes employers with progressive practices but does not prescribe specific benefits, allowing firms to decide based on evolving needs.
The Tripartite Alliance does not track the specific types of flexible work arrangements or enhanced leave benefits provided by adopters of the standard.
Employers have the prerogative to determine what leave benefits to offer, and no detailed statistics are collected on the specific provisions mentioned in the question.

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5 Jul 2023

Take-up Rate among Parents for Voluntary Workshops Dealing with Child Mental Health Issues

In 2022, over 3,000 parents participated in the Health Promotion Board’s voluntary “Colours of the Mind” workshops to support their child's mental well-being.
The Ministry of Education stated that while mental health screening in schools may have merits, it is complex and requires further study, emphasizing that parents are best placed to notice issues.
Schools collaborate with parents to identify and support students through early identification, referrals to professionals and community resources, and interventions.
The Ministry also provides parents with resources, tips, and networks to foster good parenting approaches and mental well-being.
The question about including mental health screening in school health programmes was noted as an area needing more study, with a focus on parental involvement in early detection.

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5 Jul 2023

Evaluating Prevailing Societal Values towards Single Unwed Parents and Adjusting Provision of Children-related Tax Reliefs for These Parents

Louis Ng asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development to assess prevailing societal views on single unwed parents and consider revising tax reliefs like the Working Mother’s Child Relief and Parenthood Tax Rebate for them.
The Minister responded that the government regularly updates policies based on changing societal norms, using statistical and survey data to gauge attitudes toward single unwed parents.
Single unwed parents already have access to all government benefits for their children, including subsidies for education, healthcare, childcare, infant care, and the Child Development Account.
Low-income single unwed parents can seek assistance from Social Service Offices, and the Ministry collaborates with community groups to bolster support for those in need.

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