Family & gender — Topics

10 Mar 2022

Criteria for Setting up of New Family Service Centres

Mr Louis Ng asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about the factors considered when setting up new Family Service Centres (FSCs) and the maximum number of dwelling units an FSC is expected to serve.
The Ministry projects caseloads based on factors like the number and types of new dwelling units, such as public rental or sold flats, and considers the proximity of FSCs to residents.
The Ministry does not set a maximum number of dwelling units per FSC but instead monitors caseloads to ensure they are manageable.
The Ministry periodically reviews and may adjust the service boundaries of FSCs with higher caseloads.

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10 Mar 2022

Improving Sick Bay Facilities in Preschools to Allow Them to Safe-keep Sick Children Until End of School Day

Louis Ng asked if the Ministry would support improving preschool sick bay facilities to keep sick children until the end of the school day.
The Ministry highlighted that current regulations require designated sick bays, which serve as temporary isolation areas while parents are notified to pick up children promptly.
Prolonged stays in sick bays may affect a child's comfort and well-being, require extra staff monitoring, and could compromise care for other children.
The Ministry noted that preschool staff lack medical training for prolonged care and emphasized that parents should collect sick children for proper medical attention.
The Ministry acknowledged challenges faced by working parents and mentioned existing childcare leave and family-friendly measures to support them.

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10 Mar 2022

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

Ministers Masagos Zulkifli, Desmond Lee, Sun Xueling, and Eric Chua emphasized families as the core of Singapore's social compact, outlining initiatives like the Year of Celebrating SG Families, enhanced financial support such as ComCare and grants, and community programs like ComLink to support low-income and vulnerable families through holistic, coordinated approaches.
The debate highlighted efforts to uplift the low-income and persons with disabilities, including expanding job opportunities, training subsidies, and the Enabling Masterplan 2030, while addressing challenges like family violence through accepted taskforce recommendations and improved support services.
Discussions covered preschool accessibility and quality, with plans to increase places and lower fees, alongside initiatives for early childhood educators and support for children from low-income families via KidSTART, while clarifying policies on single parents and digital assistance for vulnerable groups.

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10 Mar 2022

Impact of Increase in Paternity Leave on Employability, Productivity and Family Relationships of Employees

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Government to study the doubling of paternity leave by multinational companies and consider extending this to all fathers, highlighting concerns about employability, productivity, and family relationships.
Indranee Rajah responded that while international research supports the benefits of paid parental leave, the Government must balance these with employers' operational needs, and she emphasized the importance of companies fostering family-friendly cultures rather than mandating universal doubled leave.
Louis Ng raised clarifications about potentially equalizing parental leave to address gender stereotypes, prompting Indranee to agree on the need for mindset changes among both fathers and employers to improve paternity leave uptake, which currently remains below target levels.

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9 Mar 2022

Expansion of Enhanced Pilot for Private Intervention Providers Programme

Christopher de Souza asked if the Enhanced Pilot for Private Intervention Providers (PPIP) can be expanded to more early intervention programmes to help more families qualify for financial support.
Masagos Zulkifli stated that ECDA will increase PPIP centres from 10 to 16, boosting places by 40% from April 2022, and will also expand government-funded EIPIC places through two new centres by end-2022 and mid-2024.
The government is expanding early intervention services within preschools, including the Development Support Plus programme and piloting an Inclusive Support Programme, to support children with varying developmental needs.

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9 Mar 2022

Support Schemes and Respite Care Options for Families with Special Needs Children

The government offers a range of support schemes for families with special needs children, including early intervention programmes, financial assistance, and services from SG Enable as a central touchpoint.
Respite care options such as Special Student Care Centres, Day Activity Centres, and the pilot "Take-A-Break" programme are available to alleviate caregiver burdens.
Subsidies and financial support have been enhanced for early intervention, special education, and disability services, with means-tested assistance to improve affordability for lower-income families.
Community-led initiatives like Project 3i provide peer support and navigation help for caregivers, complementing government efforts.
Plans under the Enabling Masterplan 2030 aim to further improve and expand services for persons with disabilities and their families.

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9 Mar 2022

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

Speakers emphasized the importance of strengthening family resilience amid challenges like COVID-19, rising singlehood, declining fertility, and an ageing population, calling for more inclusive definitions of family and targeted support for single parents and caregivers.
Concerns were raised about the well-being of persons with disabilities and their caregivers, with calls to enhance funding, expand adult disability services, and improve future care planning under the Enabling Masterplan 2030.
Members proposed better support for vulnerable families through initiatives like ComLink, with suggestions for streamlined assistance processes, adequate staffing, and incentives to encourage participation.
Debates highlighted the need to address stigma faced by single unwed parents, improve preschool accessibility, and review social assistance schemes like ComCare and public assistance to reflect current inflation and living costs.
Various suggestions were made to support social workers, including capping caseloads, improving remuneration, and leveraging technology to enhance service delivery while maintaining human connection in social services.

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9 Mar 2022

Applications to Import Embryos Back to Singapore for Assisted Reproductive Technology Procedures

Mr Louis Ng asked the Ministry of Health for statistics on applications to import embryos back to Singapore for assisted reproductive technology in the past two years, including the number of successful and unsuccessful applications and reasons for rejections.
The Ministry reported receiving 62 such applications since June 2021, with 59 approved and three rejected due to not meeting regulatory requirements, such as exceeding the allowed donor age limit.
In response to a clarification request, the Ministry stated that the rejection rate was not high and that it had developed a standardised online application form based on a previous suggestion to streamline the process and reduce stress for couples.

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8 Mar 2022

Proposal to Add Text Messaging Service in National Anti-Violence Helpline to Facilitate Quick Reporting

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim proposed adding a text messaging service to the National Anti-Violence Helpline (NAVH) for quick, non-verbal reporting of family violence.
The Minister of State for Social and Family Development announced that NAVH will be enhanced with web and mobile app reporting by end-2022, and text messaging will be studied for future enhancements, with data security as a priority.
Zhulkarnain raised concerns about data interception and impersonation, suggesting code words and collaboration with other agencies, which the Minister acknowledged and said would be considered alongside existing safety measures.

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7 Mar 2022

Support for Preschools Grappling with COVID-19 Rules and Manpower Shortage Given Rise in Cases

Ms Hany Soh asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development about support for preschools facing COVID-19 rules and manpower shortages due to rising cases.
The Ministry replied that ECDA regularly updates measures, provides funding for safe management, streamlines contact tracing, and allows flexible staff deployment to maintain operations.
Ms Soh further inquired about additional ART kits and concerns over sanitation compliance amid manpower issues, to which the Ministry responded by considering ART kit support and explaining the balance between operational flexibility and safety measures.

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4 Mar 2022

Update on Vulnerable Families Pilot Programme

The Vulnerable Families Pilot Programme, also known as the Strengthening Families Together Pilot, ran from January 2014 to February 2017 and focused on improving family well-being and children's outcomes through enhanced social worker training and greater inter-agency flexibility.
The pilot benefited 240 families, with 92% of appeals for housing and immigration issues successfully resolved, and showed improvements in family functioning, coping self-efficacy, and children's hope and resilience, though most families continued to need case management after the pilot ended.
MSF applied the pilot's learnings to train social workers and establish collaboration structures like the Systems Capability Team and Social Service Systems Office, which now inform nationwide initiatives such as ComLink to support families in rental housing.

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4 Mar 2022

Ensuring Preschools Remain a Safe Environment and Preventing Cases of Violence by Staff against Any Child

ECDA enforces strict regulations prohibiting corporal punishment, harsh responses, and deprivation of meals, requiring preschools to adopt positive child management practices and monitor staff interactions regularly.
Preschools must report any suspected child mismanagement to ECDA within 24 hours, with serious cases referred to police, and ECDA conducts unannounced visits and investigations, imposing penalties for non-compliance.
In response to incidents, preschools are required to provide CCTV footage and other evidence to parents and authorities, while staff receive ongoing training in child management and resilience, including awareness of family violence signs.
When children miss school, preschools are encouraged to contact parents and collaborate with Child Protective Services to check on well-being and address potential neglect or abuse at home.

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2 Mar 2022

Studies on Effects of Introduction of Gender-neutral Fertility Leave on Employability of Individuals Using It

Louis Ng asked for updates on studies about the effects of gender-neutral fertility leave on employability and the reasons if none exist.
The Ministry of Manpower confirmed no new studies have been undertaken since the last response and no proposals from researchers have been received.
Researchers can apply to the Social Science Research Council to conduct such studies, and the Ministry welcomes robust studies from stakeholders to inform policy discussions.

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2 Mar 2022

Committee of Supply – Head U (Prime Minister's Office)

Members raised concerns about digital inclusion for seniors and low-income families, with questions on alternative non-digital services, childcare leave, and support for those struggling with online government platforms.
The government highlighted progress in Smart Nation initiatives, including the Singpass app and various digital services, while acknowledging ongoing challenges in cybersecurity, user experience, and integration across platforms.
Discussions covered population strategies, including family-friendly policies, immigration, and workforce complementarity, with the government emphasizing support for families and balanced approaches to foreign talent.

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1 Mar 2022

Data on Divorce Rates Amongst Inmates and Ex-offenders

The Ministry of Home Affairs does not track divorce rates among inmates and ex-offenders or their correlation with recidivism, but acknowledges that incarceration can strain marriages and potentially increase recidivism risk.
The Singapore Prison Service collaborates with community partners and government agencies to provide family and marital support programs, such as the Family Reintegration Programme and group therapy sessions, to help inmates maintain relationships.
Inmates can be referred to Family Resource Centres for assessment, and their spouses may receive marital counselling through agencies funded by the Ministry of Social and Family Development, with ongoing support available after release.

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1 Mar 2022

Deployment of Tagging Technology to Alert Victims of High-risk or Violent Ex-offenders in Close Proximity

The Minister of State for Home Affairs explained that Singapore does not tag released ex-offenders with electronic monitoring as it is not appropriate unless they commit further crimes, and instead focuses on rehabilitation through correctional programmes and community support.
Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim clarified his query was to prevent stigmatization and promote reconciliation between ex-offenders and their families, suggesting the use of "overcomers" instead of "ex-offenders" and asked about Ministry efforts in this area.
Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim affirmed the focus on reconciliation, detailing how agencies work with families before an offender's release, conduct case conferences, and provide safety plans, while highlighting the 2021 Taskforce on Family Violence recommendations to strengthen protection, support, and perpetrator accountability.

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28 Feb 2022

Findings on Need and Demand for Night-time Childcare in Low-income Families Area

The Ministry has identified that some low-income families in rental housing need caregiving support to enable employment, with varying demand across ComLink towns.
It is unclear if night-time childcare is the preferred solution, and the Ministry is exploring approaches to meet needs beyond regular hours.
Centre-based childcare services are available during regular working hours in all towns.
The assessment is ongoing, and findings on night-time childcare will be shared once completed.

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18 Feb 2022

Empowering Public in Role as First Responder or as Part of Peer Support Group to Help Detect and Assist Survivors of Family Violence in Community

MSF has refreshed the Break the Silence public awareness campaign to help the public identify various forms of family violence and seek help, including introducing the Signal for Help hand gesture.
The ministry conducts Family and Domestic Violence Awareness Training to equip participants with skills to detect and respond to violence, and has expanded outreach to various organizations.
Public education efforts have led to increased reports, with helpline enquiries rising from 2,906 in FY2018 to 4,574 in FY2020, indicating better community awareness.

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18 Feb 2022

Divorce and Child Custody Cases where Allegations of Child Abuse to Prevent Access were Proven False in Last Three Years

The Ministry could not provide a specific number of cases where false child abuse allegations were used to prevent access in divorce proceedings, as such data is not tracked, but furnishing false information is an offence punishable by fines or imprisonment, with an average of about 80 convictions annually from 2019 to 2021 for such offences generally.
The government is introducing measures to enforce child access, including orders for additional access, compensation, counselling, bonds, or fines, and has expanded family support services like FAM@FSCs to promote co-parenting and reduce acrimony for the child's well-being.
While counselling is encouraged and courts can order it, making it mandatory for children or parents is avoided to prevent added stress, with a balanced approach focusing on restoring relationships for effective co-parenting.

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15 Feb 2022

Statistics on Doctors under Structured Traineeship Programmes Consuming Maternity or Paternity Leave

Dr Tan Wu Meng sought detailed statistics from 2018 to 2021 on doctors in structured traineeship programmes, including gender breakdowns, rates of becoming parents during training, leave consumption, and impacts on training completion.
Ong Ye Kung reported that approximately 2,100 doctors were in residency annually, with balanced gender distribution, and about 13% of trainees had a newborn during the period.
Most trainees who became parents consumed their full maternity or paternity leave entitlements.
Among those with newborns, 2% had training extended by over a year due to leave-related absences, and fewer than 5% resigned due to family commitments.
The data covers residents in both residency and senior residency programmes across the specified years.

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