Family & gender — Topics

20 Mar 2023

Automatic Revocation of CPF Nominee Status when a Beneficiary Becomes an Ex-spouse following Divorce

Lim Biow Chuan and Sylvia Lim asked if CPF nominations should be automatically revoked when a CPF member divorces their nominated spouse, similar to how nominations are voided upon marriage.
The Minister for Manpower explained that CPF nominations are treated like wills, which are not automatically revoked upon divorce, allowing members to still provide for ex-spouses and children, but the CPF Board will remind divorced members to review nominations.
Sylvia Lim highlighted that CPF funds are divisible as matrimonial assets during divorce, so it may be illogical for ex-spouses to also receive CPF nominations post-divorce, and questioned if the Board would track divorce orders to send reminders.
The Minister confirmed the CPF Board will work with agencies to remind divorced members to review nominations starting May 2023 and is studying broader policy reforms, including potential changes to nomination rules.

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6 Mar 2023

Number and Percentage of Private Companies Offering Parent-care Leave

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower for the number and percentage of private companies offering parent-care leave from 2021.
The Minister responded that based on 2020 survey data, 1,785 private companies, or 13.2%, provided paid parental care leave to employees.
The Ministry of Manpower does not track the number or percentage of private companies offering unpaid parental care leave.

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6 Mar 2023

Take-up of Government-Paid Childcare Leave by Parents

Louis Ng asked for detailed statistics on the take-up of Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) by mothers and fathers in 2019, including percentages and average/median days taken.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development only tracks parents who took more than three days of GPCL, as employers claim reimbursement only for this group.
In 2019 and 2020, about 60% of eligible working mothers (76,000) and 55% of eligible working fathers (83,000) took more than three days of GPCL each year.
For those who took leave, the average and median number of days taken was six days in 2019 and 2020 for both mothers and fathers.
Data on GPCL take-up after 2020 is not yet available from the Ministry.

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6 Mar 2023

Adding on HDB's Website that Single Parents Not Eligible for Interim Housing Can Approach HDB for Assistance

Louis Ng asked if the HDB website should explicitly state that single unwed parents ineligible for interim housing under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme can seek assistance, and requested data on applications and outcomes since 2021.
The Minister confirmed the HDB website already says single unwed parents can approach HDB for housing assistance, with each case assessed holistically based on individual circumstances.
Since January 2021, eight single unwed parents applied for the scheme, with two receiving interim rental housing, one invited but not selecting a flat, three unsuccessful in balloting, one awaiting results, and one withdrawing.

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6 Mar 2023

Assessing Estimated Expenditure of Providing Cash Component of Baby Bonus to Single Unwed Parents

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development to study the estimated costs of extending the Baby Bonus cash component to single unwed parents, arguing it is a lifeline given their low median income and that current policies reinforce stigma.
Minister Masagos Zulkifli responded that the issue is not cost but societal norms favoring parenthood within marriage, and that existing support schemes, social services, and holistic housing assessments are already available for single unwed parents.
Louis Ng emphasized that policies can evolve, citing changes to the Working Mother’s Child Relief, and urged a review focused on reducing discrimination rather than fiscal cost, noting that increased support in other areas has not led to a spike in single unwed parents.
The Minister acknowledged the hardship but maintained that policies must align with social values, stating that if norms change in the future, policies will adapt accordingly.
The debate concluded with Louis Ng reiterating his call for a sincere review of policies to support single unwed parents and remove stigma, while the Deputy Speaker moved to other parliamentary questions.

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3 Mar 2023

Number of Private Companies Offering Childcare Sick Leave

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower for the annual number of private companies offering childcare sick leave from 2021 onward.
Tan See Leng stated that employers are legally required to provide up to six days of paid childcare leave and six days of unpaid infant care leave per year.
Beyond the mandatory leave, some employers may voluntarily offer additional paid or unpaid child sick leave.
According to 2020 survey data, 3,635 private companies (27%) voluntarily provided additional paid child sick leave.
The response did not provide yearly figures from 2021 onwards, citing only the latest available 2020 data.

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3 Mar 2023

Parent-care Leave Taken by Public Servants

Louis Ng Kok Kwang requested data from the Prime Minister on the number and percentage of public servants taking parent-care leave, as well as the average and median days taken each year from 2019.
The Prime Minister’s response stated that from 2019 to 2022, about 50% of eligible civil servants took at least one day of parent-care leave annually.
On average, public servants took 1.8 days of parent-care leave, with a median of two days per year during the same period.

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3 Mar 2023

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

Seah Kian Peng raised clarifications on increasing the supply of infant care teachers to address long waitlists, the timeline for reviewing ComCare and Public Assistance schemes, and empowering Social Service Officers (SSOs) with greater flexibility in assessing applicants.
Minister of State Sun Xueling responded that ECDA is using a three-pronged approach—reviewing working conditions, ensuring competitive salaries, and enhancing skills development—to recruit more early childhood educators, including targeting local and foreign manpower sources.
Minister Masagos Zulkifli noted that ComCare and Long-Term Assistance were last reviewed in August 2022, with ongoing monitoring of inflation, and that income eligibility is assessed holistically by SSOs with flexibility on a case-by-case basis.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua highlighted that ComCare applications are streamlined through SupportGoWhere, and ComLink is a policy sandbox for experimentation, with befrienders supported by SSO staff and trained in various competencies.
MPs raised questions about sheltered workshops for persons with disabilities, volunteer management for ComLink befrienders, and information sharing across agencies, with Eric Chua noting ongoing reviews and collaborative efforts to improve social service delivery.

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3 Mar 2023

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

MSF outlined its vision of a strengthened social compact centered on stability, self-reliance and social mobility for families, highlighting increased social spending, targeted subsidies, and initiatives like KidSTART and ComLink to support lower-income households.
Members raised questions on various policies, including support for single unwed mothers, preschool affordability, early intervention for children with developmental needs, and enhancing training and employment pathways for persons with disabilities.
The Minister shared updates on family support programmes, the expansion of KidSTART nationwide, and new Enabling Services and Business Hubs to better integrate services for persons with disabilities and their caregivers.

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3 Mar 2023

Research to Understand Number of Children Singaporean Women Would Like to Have

The Government regularly conducts research on marriage and parenthood attitudes, with the 2021 Marriage and Parenthood Survey showing Singaporean women desire at least two children on average but have fewer, citing financial costs, stress, and work-family balance as key reasons.
Survey results are publicly available and include detailed demographic data, but they do not specifically highlight housing affordability; instead, they emphasize concerns like childcare costs, flexible work arrangements, and shared caregiving responsibilities.
The Minister outlined recent Budget measures addressing these issues, such as enhanced Baby Bonus and Child Development Account benefits, increased paternity leave, and promotion of Flexible Work Arrangements to support families holistically.

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2 Mar 2023

Committee of Supply – Head T (Ministry of National Development)

First-time parents and married couples will receive enhanced support, including an extra ballot chance and higher priority for BTO flats, while stricter penalties will be imposed for flat non-selection to improve allocation efficiency.
The government will expand the supply of public housing, including more short-waiting-time flats and new Community Care Apartments for seniors, while enhancing grants and schemes for singles and lower-income households.
The built environment sector will undergo transformation through digitalisation, green building initiatives, and improved maintenance, alongside community efforts to rejuvenate heartland shops and address neighbourhood issues like noise and wildlife management.

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1 Mar 2023

Trend in Teenage Pregnancies and Abortions

The debate centered on trends in teenage pregnancies and abortions over the past five years.
Mariam Jaafar queried the Minister for Health on whether teenage pregnancies had increased and what the abortion trend had been.
Minister Ong Ye Kung reported that from 2017 to 2021, the teenage pregnancy rate stayed steady at four per 1,000 females.
He also noted that the teenage abortion rate remained stable at two per 1,000 females over the same period.
The response indicated no significant change in either indicator during the five-year timeframe.

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28 Feb 2023

Rules for HDB Flat Applications by Singapore Citizens with Non-resident Spouse, Parents or Children

Leong Mun Wai questioned why Singapore Citizens with non-resident spouses, parents, or children aged 21–35 are only eligible to apply for HDB flats if the non-resident has a Long-Term Visit Pass or work pass with at least six months' validity at application, and why they are restricted to 2-room flexi flats instead of larger units.
Desmond Lee explained that the minimum citizenship requirement for new HDB flats is one Singapore Citizen aged 21 and above and one Singapore Permanent Resident, with single SCs aged 35 and above eligible for specific flat types.
SCs aged 21–35 without a family nucleus cannot buy HDB flats alone, but they may purchase resale flats if their non-resident family member holds a long-term visa (e.g., Long-Term Visit Pass or work pass of at least six months) to qualify as an essential occupier.
The policy ensures non-residents staying long-term can be included in housing applications, reflecting prioritization given Singapore's limited land and resources.
The Ministry of National Development will continue reviewing housing policies to meet evolving societal needs.

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28 Feb 2023

Outcome of Appeals to Use MediSave beyond Current Limits for Assisted Conception Procedures

MOH receives about 30 appeals annually from couples seeking to use MediSave beyond the current limits for Assisted Conception Procedures, out of roughly 7,000 ACP cycles that use MediSave each year.
Appeals are approved only in exceptional cases, such as families facing unexpected medical complications or financial difficulties, with a low overall success rate given MediSave’s primary purpose for basic healthcare needs in retirement.
The top reasons for rejecting appeals include insufficient demonstration of exceptional hardship, the availability of alternative financing options, and the need to preserve MediSave for future retirement healthcare needs.

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28 Feb 2023

Profile of Single Unwed Parents at Time of Birth of Child

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for the annual number of single unwed parents at the time of their child's birth, broken down into age groups of below 35, 35 to 36, and 36 and above from 2019 onward.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M reported that citizen mothers with non-marital births below 35 years old decreased from 621 in 2019 to 543 in 2021, while those aged 36 and older fell from 136 to 107 over the same period.
The number of such mothers aged 35 was about 20 in both 2019 and 2021, and data for 2022 is not yet available.

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28 Feb 2023

Considerations for Converting Single-sex Schools to Co-ed Schools and for Relocating Schools

MOE evaluates school relocations and conversions based on population needs, with new schools typically being co-ed to serve both genders, while single-sex schools may transition only through customized discussions with stakeholders.
Advance notice will be given to parents once plans are finalized to help them plan for Primary One admissions, though consultation is challenging for future residents not yet in the area.
The relocation of ACS (Primary) to Tengah involved MOE and the school board balancing community diversity and local demand, resulting in the school becoming co-ed to better serve the new town's needs.

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27 Feb 2023

Take-up of Full Two Weeks of Government-paid Paternity Leave by Eligible Fathers

From 2018 to 2020, around 40% of eligible fathers took the full two weeks of Government-Paid Paternity Leave each year, with about 13,000 fathers in 2018 and 2019 and over 12,000 in 2020.
Data for 2021 and 2022 are not yet available because parents have up to one year after the child's birth to use the leave and claims can be submitted within three months after that period.
The median leave taken by eligible fathers increased from 0.8 weeks to 1.2 weeks between 2018 and 2020, reported in weeks for consistency across different working schedules.
The statistics do not include eligible fathers who may have taken the leave but did not submit claims, potentially affecting the figures.
The question was raised by Louis Ng Kok Kwang, with the response provided by Masagos Zulkifli B M M.

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24 Feb 2023

Data on Subsidised and Unsubsidised In-vitro Fertilisation Treatments

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Ministry of Health for data on the number and percentage of women who used all co-funded IVF cycles without success and those who continued unsubsidised treatments over the last five years.
From 2017 to 2021, about 1% (200 out of 19,000) of women who attempted assisted reproduction treatment fully used all six co-funded cycles without a live birth.
Approximately 50% of those who used all co-funded cycles without success (about 100 women) continued with unsubsidised seventh cycles in public or private centres.
The Ministry tracks the number and percentage of individuals continuing IVF treatments unsubsidised, as evidenced by the provided figures.
The data highlights that the majority of women who used all co-funded cycles did achieve a successful live birth, with a small fraction proceeding to unsubsidised treatments.

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24 Feb 2023

Update on Workgroup Formed to Review Maintenance of Parents Act 1995

The Maintenance of Parents Act 1995 is under review by a workgroup led by MP Seah Kian Peng, formed in October 2021 with eight other MPs.
The workgroup completed its second round of public consultations in December 2022 and is now working toward introducing an amendment Bill this year.
An update was requested on the workgroup's progress and expected completion timeline.

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24 Feb 2023

Non-Citizens Married to Singapore Citizens and Subsequently Took Up Citizenship

Mr Leong Mun Wai requested detailed annual data from 2000 on foreign spouses marrying Singapore citizens and later gaining citizenship, including breakdowns by country of origin and the median time taken for citizenship.
Minister K Shanmugam provided the average annual number of foreign spouses gaining citizenship (around 2,700) and noted that high-level statistics are publicly available, but declined to share country-specific breakdowns to avoid bilateral sensitivities.
The Minister explained that foreign spouses must become Permanent Residents before applying for citizenship, and the processing time varies based on factors like marriage length, residency, and rootedness in Singapore.

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