Family & gender — Topics

2 Feb 2021

Building a Certain Type of HDB Flats that Can Be Used as "Stock Holding"

MP Henry Kwek proposed building a new type of HDB flats for couples to use as temporary "stock holding" homes while waiting for their BTO flats.
Minister Desmond Lee responded that interim housing options like staying with family, renting on the open market, or applying for the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) are already available, with priority given to couples with children.
The Ministry encourages couples to consider the lead time for BTO completion and explore other options such as buying resale flats with housing grants if they need to move in sooner.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

2 Feb 2021

Higher Priority for BTO Flats and Added Subsidies for Resale Flats for Singaporeans Staying Near Parents

Henry Kwek asked for higher priority or added subsidies for Singaporeans buying BTO or resale flats near their parents.
Desmond Lee explained existing schemes like the Married Child Priority Scheme and Multi-Generation Priority Scheme that already provide allocation priority for couples living near parents.
He also noted the Proximity Housing Grant offering $20,000–$30,000 for resale flat buyers living near or with parents.
The government currently has measures to support multi-generational living without additional subsidies or priority changes.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

2 Feb 2021

Child And Elder Care as Reasons for Not Participating in Workforce

Carrie Tan asked the Ministry of Manpower for annual data from 2015 to 2019 on persons outside the workforce due to caring for children or elderly parents, including their age, gender, and average duration outside work.
Minister Gan Siow Huang provided data showing that in 2018-2019, around 144,100 residents cited caregiving as the main reason, with 90% being females and mostly in their 30s or older; median years since last job were 4-5 years for childcare and 8 years for eldercare.
Singapore's female employment rate is high at 73.3% in 2019, with support measures like expanded preschool capacity and the Caregiver Support Action Plan to help caregivers balance work and care responsibilities.
Carrie Tan highlighted concerns about retirement adequacy for caregivers, suggesting valuing care work and proposing cross-ministry efforts or income support like CPF top-ups to prevent retirement inadequacy.
Minister Gan noted existing financial schemes like the Silver Support Scheme and CPF enhancements, expressed openness to ideas like a "Carefare" scheme, and emphasized promoting flexible work arrangements to help caregivers manage dual responsibilities.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

1 Feb 2021

Sanctions on Companies Requiring Nursing Mothers to Return to Office without Provision of Appropriate Lactation Rooms and Other Support Measures

Miss Rachel Ong asked whether sanctions can be imposed on companies that require nursing mothers to return to the office without lactation rooms, and what measures the Ministry will take to support Flexible Working Arrangements (FWAs) for nursing mothers, including reopening the Work Life Grant and whether it supports lactation rooms.
The Minister acknowledged the importance of supporting nursing mothers and promoting FWAs through tripartite efforts, noting that 85% of employers offered FWAs in 2019 and adoption has increased, so the Work Life Grant is not currently being reopened.
The government requires building owners to provide lactation rooms under enhanced Building and Construction Authority codes, with funding support for older buildings, but cautioned that sanctions could lead to unintended consequences like reduced employment of nursing mothers or women.
The Ministry plans to implement recommendations from the Citizens’ Panel on Work-Life Harmony to further enhance FWA provision and take-up, while continuing to advocate for supportive practices for nursing mothers.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

1 Feb 2021

Subsidies Provided for In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) Treatments in Past Five Years and Expected Increase in Subsidies Expenditure

From 2015 to 2019, annual co-funding for IVF treatments increased by more than 40%, from approximately $14 million to $20 million.
The government provides up to 75% co-funding for a maximum of three fresh and three frozen IVF cycles to support couples' parenthood aspirations while balancing financial support and clinical evidence.
Clinical data shows significantly lower success rates for additional cycles beyond the sixth, with rates falling to 6.7% for women aged 40 and above, reinforcing the policy of limiting co-funding to six cycles.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

1 Feb 2021

Extension of Childcare Leave Period to Facilitate Parents' Care Arrangements for Children Placed on Mandatory Sick Leave

Murali Pillai asked the Prime Minister to consider extending childcare leave during the pandemic, given the advisory for five days of sick leave for children with respiratory symptoms.
Indranee Rajah, responding for the Prime Minister, explained that while parents face challenges, existing childcare leave entitlements and annual leave already provide support, and any changes must balance employer needs with parental care responsibilities.
The government encourages employers to adopt flexible work arrangements and Tripartite Standards instead of expanding leave provisions, promoting a sustainable family-friendly work environment.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

1 Feb 2021

Awareness of Need for Cervical Cancer Checks

Joan Pereira asked for statistics on awareness and practice of cervical cancer screening in Singapore and whether the Ministry will collaborate with tertiary institutions to educate students.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong provided screening guidelines and shared that 88.5% of women aged 25–74 are aware of cervical cancer tests, with about half having been screened in the last three years, though awareness is lower among younger women.
The Ministry and Health Promotion Board are working with partners on public education campaigns, school curricula, and student-led initiatives to raise awareness about cervical cancer and early detection.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

1 Feb 2021

Resources and Opportunities for Pursuit of Education for Households with Both Singapore Citizen and Non-resident Children

MOE reported that around 500 families in 2020 had both Singapore citizen and non-resident children in primary, secondary, junior colleges, and Millennia Institute, representing less than 1% of families with two or more siblings in these institutions.
The government heavily subsidises education for Singaporean students and provides additional support for lower-income households, reducing overall family expenses and allowing financial resources to be allocated to other needs, including potentially higher fees for non-resident children.
Families with non-Singaporean children but Singaporean parents can seek assistance from schools or institutions, which assess situations case-by-case and give special consideration to low-income households to ensure resources reach those with greater needs.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

1 Feb 2021

Tackling Family Violence

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Family Violence was established in February 2020 and will submit its recommendations to the Ministers in April 2021 to tackle family violence through a whole-of-community approach.
Immediate steps include using rigorous screening tools and training for professionals in preschools, schools, clinics, and hospitals to detect and act on child abuse, with protocols to alert Child Protective Services.
The "Community Guardian" app has been launched to enable grassroots leaders and volunteers to report family violence cases for quick investigation by trained first responders.
Efforts are being stepped up to involve corporate partners and community leaders to increase vigilance and reporting of possible family violence incidents.
The public is urged to report concerns about abuse to protect and assist victims, especially children, in a timely manner.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

1 Feb 2021

Effects of Introducing Gender-neutral Fertility Leave on Employability

Mr Louis Ng asked whether the Ministry of Manpower has studied the effects of gender-neutral fertility leave on employability and if it plans to undertake such a study.
Mrs Josephine Teo responded that the government will consider the suggestion along with other studies and available resources, noting ongoing enhancements to leave provisions and the tripartite approach.
The government has progressively expanded childcare leave, paternity leave, shared parental leave, and adoption leave, and introduced tripartite standards for unpaid caregiving leave.
Feedback indicates that flexible work arrangements are more sustainable than additional leave, and efforts are underway to entrench such arrangements across sectors.
The Ministry is assessing the impact of policy changes on employers and employability amid economic uncertainty.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

1 Feb 2021

Guidelines on Students with Gender Dysphoria

The Ministry of Education focuses on providing a supportive and conducive learning environment for students with gender dysphoria, with medical treatment decisions handled by professionals and families, requiring parental consent for minors.
Schools can exercise flexibility on rules for students with valid medical grounds, working individually with stakeholders including medical professionals, students, and parents to make practical arrangements.
The Ministry declines to present regular public reports to Parliament, citing respect for family privacy and the need to avoid public airing of sensitive situations.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

5 Jan 2021

Mandatory Care-giver Leave to Care for Aged Parents

Christopher de Souza asked the Ministry for Manpower whether mandatory caregiver leave could be introduced to help children care for their aged parents.
The Government acknowledges the importance of caregiving for the elderly, emphasizing flexible work arrangements over mandatory leave as a more sustainable support for long-term caregiving needs.
Efforts to support caregivers include promoting flexible work arrangements through employer recognition, implementation guides, and awareness campaigns, with over 8,000 companies adopting the Tripartite Standard on FWAs by late 2021.
Additional support includes the Caregiver Support Action Plan, offering home and community care options and respite services to help caregivers balance work and caregiving responsibilities.
The Ministry of Manpower will continue to advocate for flexible work arrangements and collaborate with other ministries and tripartite partners to enhance support for working caregivers.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

5 Jan 2021

Private Operators of Afterschool Care

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Ministry of Social and Family Development about its expectations for private operators of after-school care and efforts to better integrate these services with the daily educational experience.
The Ministry requires all registered Student Care Centres, including those run by private entities, to meet standards covering physical safety, hygiene, supervision, and structured programmes, with regular audits to ensure compliance.
Operational guidelines are provided to all centres, and school-based centres are encouraged to work closely with schools to align programmes with students' educational needs and values, especially for those with greater needs.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

5 Jan 2021

Data on Parents with Differently-abled Child or Children Taking All Six Days of Childcare Leave in Past Five Years

Louis Ng asked for the percentage of parents with differently-abled children who took all six days of childcare leave in the past five years, and if data is unavailable, whether the Ministry would start collecting it.
The Minister replied that the data is not available because employers are not required to track leave usage for differently-abled children, and the Ministry avoids mandating excessive data collection to prevent burden and intrusiveness.
The Ministry emphasized balancing data needs with privacy and administrative efficiency, and while they recognize the greater caregiving responsibilities of such parents, they have no plans to collect additional information beyond current requirements.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

5 Jan 2021

Donation of Frozen Embroyos

Melvin Yong inquired about the percentage of couples who donate unused frozen embryos, any ethnic differences in donation rates, and ways to encourage more donations to help couples unable to conceive naturally.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong revealed that only three couples donated embryos in the past five years, too few for meaningful ethnic comparison, and demand is low due to requirements for genetic links in assisted reproduction.
Gan emphasized that embryo donation is a deeply personal decision and AR centres provide counselling to respect couples' autonomy while facilitating donations when desired.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

5 Jan 2021

Number of Expedited Orders, Personal Protection Orders and Domestic Orders Obtained since Circuit Breaker

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Law about the numbers of expedited orders, personal protection orders, and domestic exclusion orders obtained since the start of the Circuit Breaker in April 2020.
K Shanmugam provided data from 7 April to 30 November 2020 on the number of each type of order granted by the Family Justice Courts.
The response outlined the breakdown of orders during the specified Circuit Breaker period.
The debate focused on the impact of the Circuit Breaker on domestic and personal protection legal measures.
The information was presented in response to a specific parliamentary question about post-Circuit Breaker legal orders.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

5 Jan 2021

Use of Child Development Account for Student Care Services

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim questioned why the Child Development Account (CDA) cannot be used for student care services.
Indranee Rajah, speaking for the Prime Minister, explained that the CDA supports development needs like preschool and healthcare, and the government is considering expanding its use to include student care centres following parental feedback.
She also highlighted that lower-income families receive substantial subsidies for student care through schemes like ComCare Student Care Fee Assistance, with recent enhancements increasing monthly subsidies and eligibility.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

5 Jan 2021

Review of Government-Paid Childcare Leave

Gan Thiam Poh questioned the government on whether it plans to review the number of Government-Paid Childcare Leave, which has not been increased since 2008.
Indranee Rajah, representing the Prime Minister, outlined progressive enhancements to parental leave provisions since 2008, including extended childcare leave for older children and increased paternity and shared parental leave.
The government emphasized a balanced approach to any future enhancements, considering both parental caregiving needs and employers' manpower requirements, while also promoting a family-friendly work environment through tripartite initiatives and flexible work arrangements.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

5 Jan 2021

Children Separated from Parents Due to Immigration Status

Leon Perera inquired if the Ministry of Home Affairs tracks the number of children separated from parents due to immigration status and requested figures for the past five years.
K Shanmugam responded that the Government does not collect such statistics, indicating no data is available on the matter.
The exchange highlights a gap in data collection regarding family separations linked to immigration policies in Singapore.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

5 Jan 2021

Rationale for Spousal Income Criterion in Eligibility Assessment for Workfare Income Supplement

The spousal income criterion was introduced to ensure Workfare targets lower-wage workers with limited household wealth by considering the assessable income of the spouse and properties owned.
The spouse’s assessable income threshold of $70,000 is set significantly above the median to balance inclusivity with targeting support.
Appeals for exceptions, including for estranged spouses, are considered case-by-case with supporting documents from agencies, and exceptions have been made.
The scheme aims to encourage regular work and CPF savings among lower-income Singaporeans with less family support.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source