Family & gender — Topics

5 Feb 2018

Number of Maintenance Applications Submitted to Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents

Ms Rahayu Mahzam asked about the number of maintenance applications submitted to the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents over the past five years, trends in applications, and the percentage resolved by mediation; the Senior Parliamentary Secretary replied that there were 262 new applications, with no clear trend (ranging from 36 in 2015 to 70 in 2016), and that about 51% of applications were resolved by mediation in 2017, up from 39% in 2013.
Ms Rahayu, a mediator with the Tribunal, sought further details on applications and settlements, asked about the effectiveness of the mediation process, and suggested reviewing the Tribunal's role to include counselling and financial planning services; the Senior Parliamentary Secretary noted that applications have decreased since 2011, attributing this to successful conciliation by the Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents, with eight out of ten cases resolved and 90% within three months.
Mr Seah Kian Peng endorsed the increased conciliation rate and urged the Ministry to give more publicity and focus to promote conciliation over Tribunal hearings; the Senior Parliamentary Secretary agreed to consider the suggestion.

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5 Feb 2018

Online Dating Platforms that Exploit Young Persons

Seah Kian Peng and Tin Pei Ling asked the Ministry of Social and Family Development about the dating platform TheSugarBook, which targets young people and could lead to exploitation, and inquired about legal actions and protective measures.
Minister Desmond Lee stated that sugar dating platforms commodify relationships and risk exploiting young people, with police monitoring TheSugarBook for illegal activities like sexual services, while emphasizing education and family guidance as the primary defense.
The Minister highlighted past actions like banning the Ashley Madison site for conflicting with family values, but noted that in the broad online realm, education and reinforcing societal values are more sustainable than banning every troubling site.
Tin Pei Ling raised concerns about TheSugarBook being featured in a mainstream teenage magazine and asked about efforts to address the root causes of why young people turn to such platforms, with the Minister agreeing to ongoing discussions and community efforts to support families.

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9 Jan 2018

Eldercare Leave for Employees

Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Health about the prevalence, usage trends, and ways to encourage more companies to provide eldercare leave.
Gan Kim Yong responded that there is no mandatory reporting on eldercare leave take-up in the private sector, noting that 19% of employers offered paid parental care leave in 2016, up from 6% in 2008.
The government encourages family-friendly practices through initiatives like two days of parent care leave for civil servants, the Work-Life Grant funding flexible work arrangements, and the Tripartite Standard on Flexible Work Arrangements.
As of 2016, 67% of employees worked in companies offering at least one formal flexible work arrangement, up from 56% in 2011.
The Ministry of Health will continue collaborating with other ministries and tripartite partners to promote family-friendly practices and support working caregivers.

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9 Jan 2018

More Resources for Preschools and Childcare Centres to Manage Special Needs

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar requested additional assistance and support for preschools and childcare centres to better manage and care for children with special needs as they become more inclusive.
Minister Desmond Lee outlined existing measures, including 350 preschools supporting about 4,000 children with mild developmental needs through Government-funded programmes, with therapists and Learning Support Educators (LSEds) providing targeted interventions and collaborating with educators.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) have provided specialised training, such as the Specialist Diploma in Early Childhood Learning Support and subsidised Continuing Professional Development courses, to equip educators with skills to support children with developmental needs.
Over the next five years, MSF will expand the development support programme to more preschools and build a pool of 200 LSEds to provide targeted intervention and learning support for children with developmental needs.
MSF is also studying how to enhance the development support programme to support children with moderate developmental needs within the preschool setting for more timely intervention.

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9 Jan 2018

Application of Subsidised Flats for Divorcees with Joint Custody of Children

Louis Ng asked whether divorcees with joint custody can apply for subsidised flats without their ex-spouse’s consent, the number of such approvals over three years, and the criteria used.
Lawrence Wong said within three years of divorce, joint-custody parents may apply without consent only if they have sole care and control and all children are under 18.
For those not meeting these conditions, flexibility can be granted case by case, and HDB granted over 200 such waivers in the last three years due to financial hardship or lack of family support.

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9 Jan 2018

Criteria for Single Unwed Parents to Be Allowed to Buy or Rent Flats from HDB

Lawrence Wong explained that unmarried parents aged 21 and above can apply to buy or rent an HDB flat with their parents, with encouragement to live together for mutual support, though flexibility is granted on a needs-basis for those without family support, subject to singles' eligibility criteria like a $6,000 income ceiling.
HDB assesses housing options by reviewing the applicant's housing budget based on income, CPF savings, and estimated living expenses to determine affordability for other housing alternatives.
The criteria for single unwed parents under 35 to buy or rent flats include meeting general singles' eligibility, with appeals considered based on family support needs and financial assessments rather than fixed objective criteria for living with parents.

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9 Jan 2018

Encouraging Women to Obtain HPV Vaccinations to Prevent Cervical Cancer

Leon Perera asked for an update on efforts to encourage HPV vaccination, the take-up rate, and whether more subsidies and awareness campaigns could be considered.
Gan Kim Yong explained that HPV causes cervical cancer and that vaccination for females aged nine to 26 is recommended under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule since 2010, with MediSave usable for the vaccine.
About one in four Singaporean female residents aged 26 in 2016 had been vaccinated, based on MediSave claims.
The Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Board are increasing public education via HealthHub and social media, while sensitively addressing HPV as a sexually-transmitted infection and encouraging parental discussions with doctors.

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9 Jan 2018

Measures to Help Families Recover Defaulted Alimony Payments

Desmond Choo asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development about the percentage of divorced spouses defaulting on alimony, how the Ministry helps recover such payments, and how to better support families facing these difficulties.
The Ministry reported a decline in maintenance enforcement applications from 2014 to 2016 but does not have a specific breakdown for divorces only, emphasizing that maintenance is a family responsibility.
To assist families, the Ministry implemented the Maintenance Record Officer (MRO) scheme to identify wilful defaulters and provide clarity for courts on imposing harsher penalties.
The MRO scheme was enhanced in November 2017 with an early intervention point to help complainants file enforcement applications and refer them to Social Service Offices for financial assistance, having assisted 148 complainants with minor children by December 2017.

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9 Jan 2018

Review on Criminalisation of Attempted Suicide and Marital Immunity for Rape

The Ministry of Home Affairs is reviewing the Penal Code, including the criminalisation of attempted suicide and marital immunity for rape, with a committee formed in July 2016 aiming to complete its work later this year.
The review also examines principles underlying penal laws, such as criminal liability, mental health defences, and new offences for evolving crimes, after which public feedback will be invited.
Nominated Member Kok Heng Leun requested more time for stakeholder consultations during the feedback process, with the Minister responding that enough time will be given but stakeholders must also respond promptly.

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9 Jan 2018

Couples Supported by One Person's CPF LIFE Payout

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked how many couples aged 65 and above are supported by one CPF LIFE payout and how many non-receiving spouses are women, noting data limitations.
The Second Minister for Manpower explained that CPF LIFE is mandatory only for cohorts turning 65 from 2023, with most older cohorts under the Retirement Sum Scheme, and individual account data prevents couple-level analysis, highlighting gender disparities in CPF balances.
Assoc Prof Daniel Goh proposed future schemes to allow CPF LIFE ownership transfer to spouses to prevent income loss if the primary earner passes away early.
The Minister responded that current rules already allow transfers and cash top-ups to spouses, with such actions quadrupling from $50 million in 2012 to over $200 million in 2016, benefiting about 15,000 spouses.
The Minister added that transferring remaining stream-outs is actuarially challenging due to couple lifespan complexities, but the government will review rules to enhance family support for retirement adequacy.

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9 Jan 2018

More Help for At-risk Families

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked about the causes of family violence, how to better identify at-risk families, the number of cases reported by non-family members, and the timeline for the Vulnerable Adults Bill.
The Minister for Social and Family Development shared that an average of 1,400 family violence cases are reported yearly, with around 1,200 Personal Protection Orders issued annually, and one in three ComCare hotline calls on family violence come from non-family members.
The Minister explained that common causes include controlling behaviors and stressors like marital or financial issues, highlighted the national network for support, and noted the Vulnerable Adults Bill public consultation was held in 2016 with the bill planned for introduction this year.
In a supplementary question, Dr Lee asked about risk assessment methods and the use of data analytics, like in the US, to screen calls and identify at-risk individuals early.
The Minister responded that multiple agencies are part of the national networking system, and while specific data on calls saving lives is not available, every report brings cases to the attention of specialists and authorities as a critical first step.

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8 Jan 2018

Juveniles Admitted into Places of Safety under Children and Young Persons Act

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for data on the number of juveniles admitted to places of safety under the Children and Young Persons Act over the past three years and how many had at least one parent who is or has been incarcerated.
The Minister responded that children in need of care and protection, such as those abused or neglected, may be referred by the Ministry or ordered by the Youth Court to reside in a licensed place of safety, and provided a table with admission numbers for the past three years.
The Minister added that about one-quarter of children known to the Ministry due to abuse or neglect have a caregiver who has previously been arrested or incarcerated.

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8 Jan 2018

Applications for Citizenship, Permanent Residence and Long-term Visit Passes by Foreign Spouses of Singaporeans

Minister Shanmugam provided annual averages from 2012 to 2016 showing about 6,600 citizenship, 8,700 permanent residence, and 16,600 long-term visit pass applications from foreign spouses of Singaporeans.
The success rates for these applications were approximately 68% for citizenship, 49% for permanent residence, and 84% for long-term visit passes over the same period.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority does not break down the data by whether applicants had Singaporean citizen children, so the proportion of unsuccessful applicants with such children cannot be determined.

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8 Jan 2018

Review Qualification Criteria for Grandparent Caregiver Relief Claims

Zainal Sapari proposed revising the Grandparent Caregiver Relief eligibility to include caregivers with income below a threshold, those spending majority of time on caregiving, and those caring for children up to 16 years old.
Heng Swee Keat explained the relief is for working mothers whose parents or grandparents care for Singaporean children aged 12 or below.
The relief requires the grandparent caregiver to be non-working due to the young age of children needing adult supervision.
The current criteria focus on young children and non-working caregivers, differing from the proposed revisions.

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8 Jan 2018

Increasing Income Threshold Qualification for Parent Relief Claims

Zainal Sapari proposed raising the $4,000 annual income threshold for Parent Relief claims to help seniors qualify while working part-time.
Heng Swee Keat explained that tax reliefs like Parent Relief are meant for dependants who are handicapped or have no income, with the $4,000 threshold balancing support for those with incidental income.
Heng noted that other measures already support senior employment, including the Special Employment Credit, WorkPro, and Workfare Income Supplement.

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8 Jan 2018

Capacity of Existing Crisis Shelters

There are four crisis shelters with 220 beds for victims of family violence, three transitional shelters with a total capacity of 156 families and 60 individuals, and 12 welfare homes with about 2,300 places for destitute persons.
The allocation of places for men and women across shelters varies by need, with welfare homes providing 1,250 places for males and 250 for females, while other shelters cater to both genders as needed.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development states that current shelter capacity is sufficient for current needs but is continually reviewing intake trends and capacity utilisation, though no specific expansion plans for accommodating homeless singles are mentioned.

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7 Nov 2017

Safeguarding Interests of Children and Employees in Pre-school Centres against Insolvency

Dennis Tan asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about safeguards for children and employees if pre-school centres become insolvent and cease operations.
The government ensures preschool safety and well-being, with ECDA intervening decisively when operations are at risk and involving other agencies for complex cases.
In unforeseen centre closures, ECDA assists parents in finding alternative placements for their children.
Employers who fail to pay salaries or CPF contributions commit an offence, which MOM and CPF Board will investigate.
The response emphasizes protecting children's development and employees' rights through regulatory oversight and agency support.

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6 Nov 2017

Regular Attendance of Children in Primary School

Murali Pillai asked whether the Ministry for Social and Family Development would update the Children and Young Persons Act to include parental neglect of regular primary school attendance as a factor in determining if a child needs care or protection.
Desmond Lee responded that irregular school attendance often stems from complex family stressors like marital or financial issues, and that parents are primarily responsible under the Compulsory Education Act, with family and community support prioritized before state intervention.
He explained that the Children and Young Persons Act is not necessary to specifically address irregular school attendance as the Compulsory Education Act already covers this, and the Ministry of Education uses a holistic approach with counselling and support before legal enforcement.
The Children and Young Persons Act focuses on protecting children from serious harm or risk, with Child Protective Service intervening when needed, while early intervention and community partners like Social Service Offices and Family Service Centres help families.

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6 Nov 2017

Statistics on Singapore Citizenship Granted to Foreigners from 2008 to 2017

Mr Png Eng Huat requested a yearly breakdown from 2008 to 2017 of citizenship applications received and approved for foreigners married to Singapore Citizens, categorized by whether they had SC children, non-SC children, no children, or were on work passes.
The Minister for Home Affairs stated that from 2008 to 2016, around 20,000 individuals received Singapore Citizenship annually, with approximately 4,300 being married to Singaporeans.
The Ministry clarified that data cannot be broken down by whether applicants had SC or non-SC children, and that foreigners on work passes are ineligible for citizenship unless they first obtain Permanent Resident status.

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6 Nov 2017

Exceeding MediSave Claimable Limit under MediSave Maternity Package

Zainal Sapari inquired about the number and percentage of women exceeding the MediSave Maternity Package limit, reasons for cost overruns, and whether greater flexibility can be given for using MediSave beyond the limit for complications during delivery.
Gan Kim Yong stated the package covers subsidised care with specific claim limits and noted that over two years, three-quarters of subsidised deliveries had no out-of-pocket costs, while eight in ten had payments of $500 or less.
He added that patients facing financial difficulties can seek assistance from medical social workers, with appeals considered case-by-case.

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