Family & gender — Topics

20 Feb 2017

Commendation of Women for Sacrifices Made in Supporting National Service

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked if there are plans to honor women for their sacrifices as mothers and wives of Singaporean men who served National Service during its 50th anniversary.
Ng Eng Hen stated that the NS50 Recognition Package is for NSmen who served two or more years, with vouchers and memberships for them and their families.
Ng Eng Hen highlighted that the wider community, including families, plays a key role, and their contributions are recognized through ongoing initiatives like the Total Defence Awards and tax reliefs.
This year, recognition will continue through NS50 events such as NS50 Week and a Dinner Reception.
The debate focused on acknowledging women's roles and existing community support efforts during the NS50 commemoration.

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7 Feb 2017

Primary 1 Students Enrolled in After-school Care and School-based Student Care Centres

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Education about the number of Primary 1 students enrolled in after-school care and specifically in school-based Student Care Centres (SCCs).
The Minister responded that around 7,800 Primary 1 students are enrolled in SCCs registered with the Ministry of Social and Family Development, with 4,800 in school-based SCCs and the rest in community-based centres.
The Ministry of Education has expanded school-based SCCs from under 50 five years ago to 147 today, with overall enrolment rising from 3,000 to over 18,000 students, and plans to continue expanding capacity without compromising quality.

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7 Feb 2017

K2 Enrollment in Full-day Childcare

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about the number of children enrolled in full-day childcare at the K2 level.
The Minister responded that over 90% of Singaporean children aged five to six are enrolled in preschool.
In 2016, about 15,000 Singaporean children, or 45% of the K2 cohort, were in full-day preschool programmes.

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7 Feb 2017

Healthcare Subsidies for Long-Term Visit Pass Holders Married to Singapore Citizens

Kok Heng Leun asked if Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders married to Singapore Citizens could receive healthcare subsidies similar to those for LTVP-Plus holders.
The Minister of State for Health stated that subsidies are based on the individual's citizenship status, not their spouse's, and only LTVP-Plus holders receive subsidies for inpatient services at the same level as Permanent Residents.
The Minister explained that extending subsidies to more LTVP holders would be funded by Singaporeans and requires careful consideration, as the LTVP and LTVP-Plus categories are intentionally differentiated by the government.
Members of Parliament sought clarification on the criteria for the differentiation and the potential cost impact, but the Minister noted that detailed cost studies would require separate parliamentary questions.
The debate highlighted the government's policy of differentiating benefits by citizenship and resident status, with limited subsidies extended to certain foreign spouses to support Singaporeans.

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6 Feb 2017

Minimum Compassionate Leave for Children and Grandchildren

Joan Pereira proposed mandating compassionate leave for children and grandchildren to support employees, especially those in junior or lower-paying roles, given limited annual leave and an ageing population.
The Ministry of Manpower highlighted that over 90% of companies already provide compassionate leave and will continue encouraging voluntary adoption through tripartite partners.
The government has introduced family leave enhancements recently and prefers allowing time for businesses to adapt, with no current plans to mandate such leave specifically.

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6 Feb 2017

Trend of Women Being Asked by Employers Not to Return to Work after Maternity Leave

Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for Manpower about the number of women told by employers not to return after maternity leave and whether this trend is increasing.
The Ministry of Manpower received one such complaint in 2016, involving a business closure, and resolved it with the employer warned and benefits recovered.
There is no evidence of a rising trend in such cases, and female employees are protected under the Employment Act and Child Development Co-savings Act against unfair dismissal during pregnancy.

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6 Feb 2017

Proposal to Nationalise Preschool Education

Kuik Shiao-Yin asked the Minister for Education about the considerations for keeping preschool education privatised and the barriers to nationalising it.
Ng Chee Meng explained that a diversified preschool sector offers parents varied choices and caters to different needs, though quality and fees can vary, and a nationalised system might not meet every parent's preferences.
The government values private and community partners, works with Anchor and Partner Operators to cap fees and ensure quality, and supports MOE Kindergartens to share best practices with other preschools.
Over 90% of Singaporean children aged five to six are enrolled in preschools, with lower-income families paying as little as $1 a month after subsidies.
The Ministry will continue monitoring and reviewing policies to ensure access to quality and affordable preschool education for every child.

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6 Feb 2017

Conversion of Government-Paid Adoption Leave to Shared Parental Leave

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked if Government-Paid Adoption Leave (GPAL) can be converted into shared parental leave and extended to adoptive parents of children above 12 months old.
Teo Chee Hean stated that recent enhancements already provide adoptive fathers the same leave as biological fathers, including sharing up to four weeks of leave and extending GPAL to 12 weeks from July 2017.
The Government explained that Adoption Leave is meant for infants’ first year and that beyond this, childcare leave is available for adoptive parents under existing provisions.
Employers expressed concerns about manpower and administrative costs if leave is further extended or made more flexible, so no further adjustments to GPAL are planned at this time.
The focus is on promoting flexible work arrangements and family-friendly environments through existing grants and tripartite advisories.

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6 Feb 2017

Study on Legislating Eldercare Leave

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin asked about the outcome of the study on legislating eldercare leave, the barriers to such legislation, and statistics on working caregivers without leave or who quit work from 2012–2017.
Minister Gan Kim Yong responded that while the Ministry of Health is studying the issue, it is not ready to legislate eldercare leave due to concerns over business costs, manpower constraints, and caregiver employability, noting existing leave provisions can be used for eldercare.
The Minister highlighted that 10% of females outside the labour force in 2016 cited caregiving as a reason, and encouraged companies to offer flexible work arrangements and family-related leave benefits, noting positive trends in such provisions.
He mentioned that public service agencies and some private companies already provide eldercare or family care leave, and the government will continue to review the need for legislation as circumstances evolve.

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6 Feb 2017

Early Childhood Development Centres Bill

The Early Childhood Development Centres Bill aims to regulate the operation of early childhood development centres and introduce connected matters.
It repeals the Child Care Centres Act and makes consequential amendments to other related legislation.
The bill is presented by the Minister for Social and Family Development and is scheduled for a second reading after the Estimates of Expenditure for 2017/2018.

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6 Feb 2017

Alternative Care Arrangements when Childcare Centres Close Due to Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

The Minister outlined that HFMD is endemic in Singapore with strict preventive guidelines for preschools, and while closures occur to break transmission, they are rare with no severe local complications reported.
Support for parents includes enhanced childcare leave provisions, flexible work arrangements encouraged by employers, and resources like the Work-Life Grant, though the Minister noted ECDA does not plan to provide home care services for HFMD cases.
The debate highlighted parental challenges when centres close, with suggestions for informal care pooling among families and reliance on existing leave and flexibility, but no new direct government intervention for alternative childcare during outbreaks.

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6 Feb 2017

Waiting Time for Childcare Centre Places

The Minister highlighted that while childcare places have increased by over 40% since 2012 with many centres having vacancies, some high-demand estates still experience waiting times of a few weeks to a few months due to parental preferences and location-specific demand.
The Ministry is addressing teacher shortages through initiatives like the Early Childhood Manpower Plan, increasing polytechnic intake for early childhood courses, and working with private institutions to expand training capacity while also reviewing salary competitiveness.
To expand capacity, new large childcare centres are being built in areas like Punggol, Sengkang, and Yishun, with plans to collaborate with HDB to integrate larger centres into new BTO projects and align their operation with flat handovers to reduce delays.

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10 Jan 2017

Age Limit for Clinical Trial for Pre-implantation Genetic Screening

Louis Ng questioned the age limit of 35 for participation in the PGS clinical trial, asking for reasons and suggesting lower or case-by-case exceptions.
Gan Kim Yong explained that the pilot allows women of any age with recurrent implantation failures or pregnancy losses, but sets a minimum age of 35 for others due to higher chromosomal abnormality risks in older mothers.
The Ministry noted that overseas guidelines from the UK and Canada also recommend PGS for women aged 35 and above, supporting the current criteria.

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10 Jan 2017

'Break the Silence' Campaign to Encourage Intervention in Family Violence Situations

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked the Minister for details on the "Break the Silence" campaign, the potential for a dedicated hotline, and urgent advice and coordination for victims and witnesses.
The Minister confirmed the three-year campaign launched in November to raise bystander awareness, highlighted online resources and community partnerships, and noted existing helplines and agency coordination through the National Family Violence Networking System.
Assoc Prof Goh raised concerns about risks to bystanders and victims' privacy, prompting the Minister to emphasize safe, non-confrontational intervention methods and encourage reporting to appropriate authorities.

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10 Jan 2017

Progress on Plan to Set up School-based Student Care Centres in Primary Schools

The Ministry of Education is on track to open Student Care Centres in all 190 primary schools by end-2020, with 147 centres currently operating in 77% of schools, and overall enrolment rising from 3,000 to over 18,000 students in five years.
While most schools do not have waitlists and the average waitlist is below 10, MOE will continue to monitor demand and work with schools and operators to expand capacity through new centres or by increasing space in existing ones, without compromising quality.
The debate highlighted that 45% of centres are operated by VWOs, and MOE collaborates with various partners, including self-help groups, to set up more centres and share best practices for Student Care Officers.
MOE also works with MSF to support students with special needs, leveraging the school environment and Allied Educators to bridge communication and provide appropriate care.

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9 Jan 2017

Maternity Claims for Mothers whose Companies Close Down During Maternity Leave Period

Darryl David asked what options are available to new mothers whose companies close down during maternity leave to claim full benefits.
Tan Chuan-Jin stated that employers must pay maternity benefits even if they close, as required by the Employment Act and Child Development Co-savings Act.
Mothers not paid can seek help from the Ministry of Manpower or Ministry of Social and Family Development, with MOM investigating and taking action through the Labour Court.

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10 Nov 2016

Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment No 2) Bill

The Bill mandates a second week of government-paid paternity leave, extends shared parental leave from one to four weeks, and increases adoption leave to 12 weeks to better support parents in bonding with their children.
It extends maternity, paternity, and adoption leave benefits to unwed parents and adoptive parents to ensure greater inclusivity and support for diverse family structures.
Members of Parliament highlighted concerns about low uptake of paternity leave, housing security for unwed and divorced parents, and the need for further support for foster parents and stay-at-home mothers, with the Minister committing to ongoing reviews and studies.

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10 Nov 2016

Genetic Screening for Women Seeking Fertility Treatment

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is reviewing the use of Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) in Singapore, following earlier requests to permit it for women with recurrent miscarriages or infertility to improve chances of healthy live births.
A three-year pilot PGS programme will be conducted by the National University Hospital (NUH) starting early next year to assess the clinical effectiveness of newer PGS technologies.
MOH will also examine ethical implications and regulations to prevent misuse, such as banning sex selection, and plans to consult stakeholders and the public for their views.
Details on eligibility criteria, funding, and other trial specifics are currently being worked out and will be announced closer to the programme's commencement date.

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9 Nov 2016

Re-employment of Women beyond Age 62

The Minister of State reported that over 98% of local employees, including women, were offered re-employment at ages 62 and 65 in 2015, with government measures like raising the re-employment age to 67 and providing wage offsets and workplace support to aid older workers.
Nominated MP K Thanaletchimi sought targeted strategies to extend employment for older women, emphasizing the need for sufficient savings and interim measures before the re-employment age increase.
The Minister responded with a gender-neutral tripartite approach, highlighting outreach programs for older female workers and ongoing support like Special Employment Credit and age-friendly workplace initiatives.
The debate underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between the government, unions, and employers to sustain and improve re-employment opportunities for older workers.

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8 Nov 2016

Housing and Flat Rental Assistance for Single Unwed Moms

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin raised concerns about housing and financial trade-offs for single unwed mothers who are caught between qualifying for rental flats and affording home ownership.
Minister Tan Chuan-Jin stated that HDB and MSF collaborate to provide tailored assistance, emphasizing home ownership as a long-term solution for stability and asset building, while offering public rental as temporary support.
He explained that rent in public rental flats is progressive based on income, and HDB provides flexibility by waiving rent increases for up to four years to allow tenants time to improve their income without immediate financial penalty.
The Minister highlighted that using CPF for mortgage payments is more beneficial than cash rentals, helping families manage cash flow while working toward eventual home ownership.
Residents facing difficulties are directed to seek help from Social Service Offices or Family Service Centres for comprehensive support.

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