Family & gender — Topics

15 Feb 2022

Most Common Congenital Birth Issues and Annual Proportion of Expectant Mothers Taking up Maternity Insurance Policies

Mr Melvin Yong asked about the most common congenital birth issues over the past decade, the average medical costs for children without maternity insurance, and whether the Ministry would mandate insurers to cover parents with pre-existing conditions.
He also requested data on the annual proportion of expectant mothers taking up maternity insurance, the average number of claims, and the percentage of policies rejected due to pre-existing conditions over the past five years.
Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that circulatory and urinary system illnesses are the most common congenital issues, and that MediShield Life, MediSave, and Integrated Shield Plans provide coverage, with cash outlays for newborns averaging under $200 from 2018 to 2020.
The Minister noted that MOH does not have data on private maternity insurance take-up, claims, or rejections, as these are optional products from private insurers.

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15 Feb 2022

Take-up Rate of Government-paid Paternity Leave vis-a-vis Government-paid Maternity Leave from 2019 to 2021 and Additional Steps to Encourage Co-parenting

From 2019 to 2021, the take-up rate for Government-Paid Maternity Leave was higher than for Government-Paid Paternity Leave, with 2019 rates at 79% and 55% respectively, while data for 2020 and 2021 is pending due to claim processing timelines.
The lower take-up rate for paternity leave is attributed to its later introduction in 2013 compared to maternity leave in 2004, though paternity leave uptake has increased from 25% in 2013 to 55% in 2019, with expectations of the gap narrowing over time.
The government is encouraging higher paternity leave take-up through workplace initiatives like the Tripartite Standards on Flexible Work Arrangements and the Great Companies for Dads Awards, alongside community efforts such as the Alliance for Action to promote co-parenting.

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15 Feb 2022

Litigants-in-person in Family Law Cases Annually from 2019 to 2021

The Ministry of Law does not track the number of family law cases involving litigants-in-person (LIPs) by gender, education level, prior legal aid attempts, or reasons for self-representation.
Various measures are in place to support LIPs, including online information resources, a simplified divorce track for amicable cases, and an online filing system (iFAMS) designed to assist with family law applications without legal representation.
The Ministry, together with the Judiciary and MSF, continuously reviews family law matters to ensure access to justice regardless of personal circumstances and plans to explore further improvements in this area.

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15 Feb 2022

Support for Public Sector Healthcare Employees to Cope with Personal Caregiving Responsibilities

Public healthcare institutions provide leave benefits such as Childcare Leave, Family Care Leave, and extended maternity/paternity leave, with 100% of eligible female staff and 80.4% of male staff taking up post-childbirth leave in the past year.
Flexible work arrangements like staggered shifts, compressed work weeks, and work-from-home are available, with part-time work take-up rates at 4.1% for females and 1.3% for males, supported by on-site childcare facilities and contingency nurse pools.
Professional development pathways and traineeships accommodate caregiving responsibilities, offering study leave for doctors and deferment options for pregnant nursing students, with special considerations during emergencies like COVID-19.

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15 Feb 2022

Number and Profile of Single Parents Successful in Obtaining HDB's Proximity Housing Grant for Families

From 2017 to 2021, 2,034 single parents received the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) for families.
Of these, 2,029 were divorced or widowed.
Only five were unmarried.
The PHG was introduced in August 2015 to encourage living with or near parents or children for mutual care and support.
All eligible resale flat buyers can receive the PHG once, regardless of their housing subsidies, household income, or ownership of private property.

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14 Feb 2022

Number of Divorcees Not Qualified for HDB Rental Flats Because of Their Income and Yet Unable to Afford HDB Flat in Open Market

The debate centers on whether the Ministry tracks divorcees who are ineligible for subsidized HDB rental flats due to income but still cannot afford to purchase a flat in the open market.
HDB assesses each rental request based on the household's overall financial situation and alternatives, such as renting privately or living with family, rather than rejecting based solely on income.
As a result, the Ministry does not specifically track or provide data on divorcees denied rental flats due to income who also cannot afford an HDB flat in the open market.

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14 Feb 2022

Review of Five-person Dining-in Limit to Allow Families with Three or More Children to Dine with Grandparents for Meals at Restaurants

Christopher de Souza questioned if the five-person dining-in limit would be reviewed to allow families with three or more children to dine with grandparents at restaurants.
Ong Ye Kung referred to a prior reply on the same issue dated 14 February 2022.
The debate highlighted a request for family-friendly dining exemptions amid COVID-19 restrictions.
The response indicated the matter had already been addressed in an earlier parliamentary session.
No new policy change or review commitment was announced in this exchange.

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14 Feb 2022

Number of Maintenance Enforcement Applications Filed in Family Justice Courts over Past Three Years and Profile of Applicants

Hany Soh asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for the number of maintenance enforcement applications filed in the Family Justice Courts over the past three years, broken down by year, and by applicant type (incapacitated male, female, male/female filing for minor children), as well as cases filed during marriage and those resolved amicably at mediation.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that maintenance enforcement applications are filed under Section 71 of the Women's Charter, which allows the court to enforce payments for wives, incapacitated husbands, or minor children.
The Ministry provided the total number of maintenance enforcement applications for the last three years in a table (not reproduced here).
The Ministry stated that statistics on applications filed during the course of marriage and cases resolved amicably at mediation are not available, so no breakdown could be provided for those aspects.

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14 Feb 2022

Number of Infant Care Applications and Successful Placement Rates in 2021

Edward Chia asked about the number of infant care applications and successful placement rates in 2021, projections for 2022, and the ministry’s plans to expand capacity.
Masagos Zulkifli explained that application and placement rates are not tracked nationally, but in 2021, 830 parents registered interest via the Preschool Search Portal, representing 1% of families with infants, and 77% of infant care capacity was utilized overall, though some areas had waitlists.
The ministry plans to add 1,000 new infant care places by the end of 2022, focusing on anchor operators and areas with upcoming HDB developments, to address demand and support new families.

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14 Feb 2022

Administration of Muslim Law (Amendment) Bill

The Bill aims to modernise the Administration of Muslim Law Act by allowing digital processes for the Syariah Court and Registry of Muslim Marriages, including remote proceedings and e-filing, to improve efficiency and service delivery.
It introduces provisions to streamline divorce procedures, such as enabling the Syariah Court to authorise the first set of hakam to pronounce a divorce if the husband refuses, and delinking divorce registration from fee payment to prevent abuse.
The amendments extend support for Muslim families undergoing divorce, aligning with the Women’s Charter by allowing the Syariah Court to advise parents to secure children's attendance at support programmes, prioritising the child's best interests.

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14 Feb 2022

Support for Children with Special Needs and Their Caregivers

The ministers outlined a comprehensive support framework for children with special needs, including early detection through developmental screenings, tailored educational pathways in mainstream or special education schools, and transition planning to post-school life and employment, while emphasizing the critical role of parents as partners.
Caregivers can access resources through SG Enable's Enabling Guide, training workshops, respite services, and mental health hotlines, with community initiatives like Project 3i fostering peer support and professional guidance.
Multiple MPs highlighted the need for better coordination, more strategic information sharing, proactive registries for caregivers, and stronger community involvement to prevent tragedies and ensure holistic support across national, community, and family levels.

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12 Jan 2022

Clarification by Minister of State for Social and Family Development

The Minister of State for Social and Family Development clarified a prior statement about support for survivors of sexual violence.
The correction specified that two centres provide support to persons who experience sexual violence, removing the reference to workplace incidents.
The original statement during Question Time on 12 January 2022 was updated to reflect this factual change.
The clarification was submitted as a written statement following parliamentary standing orders.
The update ensures accurate information about the services available at the mentioned centres.

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12 Jan 2022

Proposal for Vaccination Leave for Workers Suffering from or Parents Caring for Children with COVID-19 Vaccination Side Effects

Dr Shahira Abdullah proposed additional vaccination leave for workers with side effects and for parents caring for children experiencing side effects after vaccination.
Minister Tan See Leng affirmed tripartite support for vaccination, noting existing encouragement for paid time-off for children’s vaccination and observation periods.
The Ministry cautions against creating new leave types that could burden businesses, preferring flexible work arrangements to maintain competitiveness.
Employers and workers have cooperated effectively during the pandemic without excessive regulation, validating the tripartite approach.

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12 Jan 2022

Annual Number of Personal Protection Orders that are Breached and Remedies to Protect Victims from Such Breaches

The Minister reported that from 2016 to 2020, approximately 1,100 Personal Protection Orders (PPOs) were issued annually, with an average of 60 criminal cases per year for PPO breaches, and all breaches are arrestable offences under the Women’s Charter.
To address unreported breaches and encourage reporting, MSF runs the “Break the Silence” campaign and the National Anti-Violence Helpline, while social service agencies assist survivors in lodging police reports and creating safety plans.
Remedies for protecting victims include increasing maximum penalties for PPO breaches and empowering courts to issue additional orders prohibiting contact or entry into specific areas, with breaches of such orders also constituting criminal offences.

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12 Jan 2022

Improving Support for Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence

The Minister outlined the comprehensive support provided by Family Violence Specialist Centres (FVSCs) and PAVE, including safety planning, legal aid, counselling, and therapeutic groups for survivors of family and sexual violence, with plans to enhance capability and capacity, especially for sexual violence cases.
MSF is strengthening interventions by deploying forensic-trained psychologists at each FVSC, developing a common assessment and intervention framework, and collaborating with educational institutions to provide trauma-informed care for youths, while also focusing on upstream prevention through public education and relationship-building programmes.
In response to concerns about capacity, the Ministry monitors case loads and is prepared to increase resources, noting ongoing efforts to train staff and work with community partners, with a commitment to enhancing therapeutic care for survivors in the coming years.

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12 Jan 2022

Update on Five-year Child and Maternal Health and Well-being Strategy and Action Plan

The Ministry of Health has established a Taskforce to develop a five-year Child and Maternal Health and Well-being Strategy, focusing on evidence-based policies, early preventive health efforts, and streamlined service delivery for families.
The Taskforce has engaged parents, caregivers, and frontline officers through focus groups and site visits to ensure the strategy addresses family needs, with recommendations being finalized for an upcoming announcement.
The strategy will adopt a family-centric approach, encouraging involvement of fathers and grandparents, while further studies are needed to define screening and intervention programs, including workplace support for mothers.

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12 Jan 2022

Female Workforce Participation in Emerging Industries and Sectors with Dearth of Women Talents

The Minister noted that Singapore's female employment rate has risen from 54% in 2010 to 57.7% in 2020, with women's share in PMET roles increasing from 41.1% to 45.6%, and observed growth in sectors like information and communication, financial services, and health and social services where women now constitute 52.8%.
While women’s representation in STEM jobs has increased from 29.9% in 2015 to 32.4% in 2020, the sector still sees a dearth of female talent, which a 2019 study linked to gender differences in traits, skills, values on flexibility, and social norms rather than pure opportunity gaps.
The Ministry plans to collaborate with tripartite partners and community stakeholders to enhance women's access and retention in the workforce, particularly in emerging industries like digitalisation and sustainability, despite existing gender imbalances.

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12 Jan 2022

Measures to Promote Flexible Work Arrangements for Work-life Harmony and to Facilitate Caregivers and Women Returning to Workforce

The government has implemented a range of support measures for caregivers, including subsidized childcare and eldercare services, financial assistance for disability care, and the introduction of flexible work arrangements through tripartite standards and advisory resources to help manage work-life harmony.
Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore provide employment facilitation programs, such as the Career Trial and Career Conversion Programmes, along with training support and wage subsidies to help caregivers, including women returning to the workforce, reskill and secure jobs.
Initiatives like the Workfare Income Supplement, Silver Support Scheme, and CPF top-up incentives aim to bolster the financial resilience and retirement adequacy of caregivers, with particular attention to those who faced lower incomes during their caregiving years.
The Ministry of Manpower and tripartite partners are enhancing outreach to elderly caregivers through 24 SGUnited Jobs and Skills Centres, career coaching, and community mentorship programs, while encouraging employers to adopt progressive HR practices and flexible work arrangements to support diverse workforce needs.

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11 Jan 2022

Outcome on Access Enforcement Applications Filed in Family Justice Courts over Past Three Years

The Ministry for Social and Family Development does not have specific data on access enforcement applications filed in the Family Justice Courts over the past three years.
Committal applications, which are used as a proxy for child access enforcement cases, numbered 297 from 2018 to 2020 out of about 14,000 summonses received by the Family Justice Courts.
Detailed breakdowns of these applications by gender of the applicant or cases resolved amicably at mediation are not available.

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11 Jan 2022

Outcome of Cases Lodged with Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents over Past Three Years

From January 2019 to September 2021, 317 cases were lodged with the Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents, with 289 (91%) resolved at the office and 28 (9%) referred to the tribunal.
Out of the 317 cases, 48 (15%) were referred for financial assistance, and from September to December 2021, five cases were referred for counselling services.
The office also referred elderly parents and children for social and emotional support at Family Service Centres and other agencies, but data on such referrals before September 2021 was not tracked.

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