Family & gender — Topics

20 Oct 2022

Dependant Passes for Same-Sex Spouses or Partners of Work Pass Holders

Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Manpower whether Dependant Passes have been issued to same-sex spouses or partners of work pass holders.
Tan See Leng stated that the Ministry of Manpower has not issued any Dependant Passes to same-sex spouses or partners of work pass holders.
The exchange confirms the current policy does not extend Dependant Passes to same-sex partners of work pass holders.

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20 Oct 2022

Applicants who Fail to Obtain HDB Flats under Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme Following Revision in Eligibility Conditions

Murali Pillai asked about the number of eligible applicants unable to get PPHS flats after eligibility conditions were tightened in August 2021, and whether HDB could provide public rental flats or grants as interim housing amid tight supply.
Desmond Lee stated that since August 2021, about 1,930 eligible families applied, with 330 allocated flats, 250 declining invitations, and 1,350 unsuccessful, noting increased demand due to COVID-19 and a planned supply increase from 800 in 2021 to 1,800 in 2023.
HDB encourages applicants to seek other housing options, stating that providing grants could drive up market rents, and thus has no plans to offer PPHS flats from the open market or rental grants.
Low-income households with no alternatives may seek case-by-case assistance from HDB for Interim Rental Housing.

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20 Oct 2022

Pilot of Childminding Service for Low-income Parents

Louis Ng asked the Ministry of Social and Family Development for an update on the pilot childminding service partnership with Daughters Of Tomorrow, the number of single unwed parents using it, and if it can be scaled up.
The Ministry is running the pilot with Daughters Of Tomorrow at Bedok and Punggol Community Link for low-income families in rental housing with children aged three to nine needing care outside standard childcare hours.
As of end-September 2022, 30 potential childminders and 13 families have expressed interest, with two families using the service since August, including one headed by a single unwed parent.
The Ministry is matching childminders to remaining families and using the pilot to assess the feasibility of the service model for potential scaling.

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20 Oct 2022

Penal Code (Amendment) Bill

The Minister for Home Affairs introduced the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code 1871 and make related amendments to other laws.
The bill was presented for its first reading and scheduled for a second reading on 28 November 2022, with instructions for it to be printed.
The debate focused on decriminalizing consensual same-sex relations and aligning the Penal Code with contemporary societal values.
The amendments aimed to remove an outdated colonial-era law while ensuring no impact on other laws like the Broadcasting Act or education policies.
The repeal was framed as a balanced move to respect both LGBTQ+ communities and traditional family structures, with no changes to the legal definition of marriage.

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20 Oct 2022

Security Measures at Preschools to Prevent Intrusions by Unauthorised Persons

The Ministry of State for Social and Family Development outlined that all preschools regulated by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) are required to secure their premises, use electronic locks, record entries and exits, and have standard operating procedures for emergencies, with mandatory evacuation exercises every six months.
ECDA conducts regular licensing and supervisory visits to ensure compliance, reviews and updates regulations as needed, and collaborates with the Singapore Police Force to organise counter-terrorism seminars and advise on public safety advisories like "Run-Hide-Tell."
In response to concerns about dismissal times and identification of caregivers, the Minister noted that preschools generally check and authenticate caregivers before releasing children, with some centres using staggered dismissal timings and maintaining records of pre-designated caregivers.

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20 Oct 2022

Shortening Waiting Time for HDB BTO Flats in Support of Marriage and Parenthood Objectives

The government is increasing the supply of Build-to-Order (BTO) flats, with a commitment to launch up to 100,000 new flats from 2021 to 2025 if needed, and is working to offer more projects with shorter waiting times of three years or less, subject to site readiness.
The Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) income ceiling of $7,000 will be retained to prioritize applicants less able to afford market rental, though HDB will consider case-by-case requests for those with higher incomes facing exceptional circumstances, while PPHS supply is being doubled.
To mitigate construction delays and supply chain risks, HDB is working closely with contractors, stockpiling materials, standardizing designs, and exploring new construction methods to enhance productivity and resilience.

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5 Oct 2022

Plans to Build More Complexes with Integrated Inter-generational Care Facilities

HDB collaborates with various ministries and agencies to integrate childcare and eldercare facilities in new public housing developments to support inter-generational bonding and convenience for sandwiched generations.
Efforts are made to co-locate childcare and eldercare facilities in multi-storey carparks or community buildings in BTO developments, with examples like Kampung Admiralty showcasing integrated complexes.
HDB and URA continue exploring co-location of social communal facilities within single complexes, considering local needs, site availability, and funding timelines.
Under the "Designing For Life" roadmap, HDB plans to position more childcare and eldercare facilities near precinct amenities like three-generation playgrounds to enhance family interaction.

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5 Oct 2022

Increasing Claim Limit of MediShield Life for Couples Experiencing Serious Pregnancy Complications

Leon Perera proposed increasing MediShield Life claim limits for couples facing serious pregnancy complications, noting the last review was in 2019.
Ong Ye Kung explained that current limits are tied to ICU and general ward daily rates, which were updated as of March 2021.
The Ministry of Health committed to regular reviews to ensure coverage remains adequate.

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5 Oct 2022

Materiality of Letter of Consent for Spouses of Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass Holders

Hazel Poa asked the Minister for Manpower about which agencies provided feedback on the materiality of the letter of consent for spouses of Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass holders and when the feedback was given.
The Ministry of Manpower and economic agencies received feedback from trade associations and chambers, including the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce and several national chambers, stating the letter of consent assured foreign professionals their spouses could work in Singapore and was critical to relocation decisions.
The feedback was provided after the March 2021 announcement during the MOM Committee of Supply debate on regularising work arrangements for Dependant’s Pass holders.

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4 Oct 2022

Encouraging Transition Towards Household Services Scheme for Families with Foreign Domestic Worker

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked if the Ministry of Manpower is studying ways to encourage more families to transition from foreign domestic workers to the Household Services Scheme.
The Household Services Scheme has seen significant growth since becoming permanent in September 2021, with over 20,000 households served, including about 27% who previously employed migrant domestic workers.
The Ministry plans to broaden the scheme’s scope to include basic child-minding and elder-minding services to further encourage households with lighter needs to consider HSS over hiring full-time domestic workers.
The Ministry will provide more details on the expanded services in the coming months.

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4 Oct 2022

Consent for Couples with Minor Children Undergoing Divorce to List Them in Respective Applications for HDB Flat

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether the Ministry would require divorcing couples with minor children to state in their matrimonial property plan if both parties consent to listing the children in their respective HDB flat applications, and if not, the reasons for withholding consent.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development responded that the matrimonial property plan is meant for dividing matrimonial assets, not for planning future HDB applications, and it is unlikely parties can plan for HDB applications at that stage.
Couples with minor children undergoing divorce are encouraged to agree on their children's care arrangements, and since each person can only be listed on one HDB flat application, divorced parents with shared care must agree before listing their child in a flat application.
HDB may exercise flexibility on a case-by-case basis by waiving the requirement for an ex-spouse's consent if parents cannot agree, to ensure the child has a stable housing arrangement.
Parents who need further support can approach HDB directly or seek help from the Strengthening Families Programme @ Family Service Centres or Divorce Support Specialist Agencies.

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4 Oct 2022

Applying Lessons from How Employers Manage Operational Needs during Employees' Reservist Call-ups to Use of Parental and Childcare Leave

A 2013 survey found 77% of employed National Servicemen reported employers adjusted workloads for reservist call-ups, with employers covering duties by reallocating work or hiring temporary staff.
Employers use similar strategies for parental and childcare leave, such as reallocating work, hiring temporary staff, or allowing flexible scheduling for short leaves.
The government encourages early discussion between employees and employers to plan leave and maintain operational resilience, and will continue promoting progressive workplace practices.

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4 Oct 2022

Incidence of Pregnant Women Being Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes

From 2017 to 2021, an average of about 2,950 pregnant women in public hospitals were diagnosed with gestational diabetes each year.
Health efforts include promoting optimal weight gain and healthy lifestyles via the Health Promotion Board’s Parent Hub, and offering gestational diabetes screening between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation.
Women diagnosed receive monitoring, lifestyle interventions, and may need medication or insulin, with post-delivery diabetes screening and subsidised follow-up under the Screen for Life programme.
The Agency for Care Effectiveness updated clinical guidelines in August 2022 to provide evidence-based recommendations for screening, diagnosis, and follow-up of gestational diabetes.

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4 Oct 2022

Affordability of Rising Public Housing Prices and Impact of Prices on Marriage and Fertility Rates

The Minister explained that rising HDB resale prices are driven by strong demand from household formation, smaller households, and delayed BTO construction, but emphasized that new flats remain affordable with subsidies and grants, and announced cooling measures like a 15-month wait-out period for private property owners and tighter loan limits to moderate demand and ensure prudent borrowing.
In response to concerns about housing prices affecting marriage and fertility, the Minister noted that while no specific studies have been conducted, policies prioritize first-time families with increased BTO supply, grants, and ballot advantages to support home ownership and family formation.
The government is ramping up public housing supply to 100,000 flats from 2021 to 2025 to meet demand, but officials declined to specify exact demand forecasts or predict when price moderation might occur, underscoring a commitment to monitor the market and intervene as needed.

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3 Oct 2022

Data on Applications for Interim Housing Assistance under Provisional Parenthood Housing Scheme

In 2021 and 2022, HDB received a high number of applications for the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS), but only about half of those invited to select a flat did so, indicating many had other housing options.
Successful PPHS applicants are invited to select a flat and sign a tenancy agreement the month after applying, with keys issued immediately, allowing for immediate move-in without a waiting period.
Due to increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, PPHS supply remains limited and cannot accommodate all applicants, so HDB encourages other interim housing arrangements and offers Interim Rental Housing for low-income households on a case-by-case basis.

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3 Oct 2022

Percentage of Young Couples with Successful Applications for HDB Flats Through Existing Schemes

For the past five years, the Minister provided percentages of young couples successfully applying for HDB flats through Sale of Balance Flats, Open Booking, and the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme, but noted these schemes are not the main supply source.
The government encourages young couples to apply for Build-To-Order flats in non-mature estates, where nearly 90% of first-timer families secure a flat within two attempts and almost all succeed within three tries.
First-timer families can also buy resale flats with grants up to $160,000, and the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme has expanded supply to 1,800 units by 2023, increasing access to temporary housing.

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3 Oct 2022

Support for Nurses Undertaking Caregiving for Their Families

The Ministry supports local and foreign nurses with family caregiving through various types of leave, including annual leave, maternity leave, childcare leave, paternity leave, and unpaid infant care leave under Singapore’s Employment Act and Child Development Co-Savings Act.
Public healthcare institutions and some private employers offer additional support like family care leave and flexible work arrangements such as staggered hours, compressed work weeks, and flexi-load to help nurses manage caregiving responsibilities.
Onsite childcare centres in certain hospitals are available for staff to enrol their children, providing further convenience for nurses balancing work and family duties.

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3 Oct 2022

Tax Treatment of Full-time National Serviceman Allowances

Leon Perera asked about the number of full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) whose parents claimed tax relief such as Qualifying Child Relief (QCR) or Working Mother Child Relief (WMCR) over the past five years, the rationale for the $4,000 income cap under these reliefs, and whether NSF allowances could be treated like other allowances for tax purposes.
Lawrence Wong explained that QCR and WMCR aim to support parents and encourage working mothers, with children qualifying if unmarried, financially dependent, and meeting age or full-time study criteria, including a concession for those with annual income up to $4,000.
He noted that NSFs generally are not considered financially dependent as their needs are provided by the armed forces, but they may qualify if their total NS allowance and other income are under $4,000 in a year.
Wong stated that NSF allowances are already treated like transport and meal allowances for tax purposes, being considered income subject to tax if chargeable income reaches $20,000 or more.
The Ministry provided data on the number of NSFs whose parents had QCR/WMCR claims allowed in the last five years, aligning with the stated tax relief objectives and criteria.

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3 Oct 2022

Data on Maintenance Order Amounts and Reasons for Breakdown in Relations Recorded by Commissioner for Maintenance

The Minister explained that while poor familial relations stem from many interwoven factors, applicants for conciliation are not required to disclose the specific reasons for the breakdown in relations.
In 2021, the Tribunal received 29 maintenance applications, with 19 granted orders, and the average monthly payout was about $400, which varies based on the parent's request, the child's ability to pay, and case circumstances.
Maintenance orders typically last until the death of the parent or child unless rescinded by the Tribunal, and the amount is not solely based on common factors but on a just and equitable assessment of the parent's need and the child's means.

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3 Oct 2022

Childcare and Infant Care Providers and Vacancies in Bukit Panjang

Edward Chia asked about current childcare and infant care vacancies, enrolment rates, waiting times, and future capacity in Bukit Panjang, broken down by operator type.
Masagos Zulkifli reported that infant and childcare places in Bukit Panjang have grown by 70% and 60% respectively over the past five years, exceeding national growth rates.
As of July 2022, there are 300 infant care and 5,400 childcare places in Bukit Panjang, with high enrolment rates and waiting times ranging from a few weeks to a few months.
By 2023, 30 new infant care and 190 new childcare places will be added in Bukit Panjang, mainly through anchor operators in new BTO housing developments.

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