Family & gender — Topics

7 Nov 2016

Provision of Mandatory Changing Facilities for Babies in Male and Female Restrooms in Public Buildings

Member of Parliament Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked if the Ministry will mandate baby changing facilities in both male and female restrooms in public buildings.
Minister Lawrence Wong stated that since 2014, the Code on Accessibility already requires diaper changing facilities in both male and female restrooms in family-frequented public buildings.
He noted that building owners have the alternative to provide such facilities in unisex family restrooms instead of in both gender-specific restrooms.

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7 Nov 2016

Support for Small and Medium-sized Kindergartens and Childcare Operators

Mr Ang Hin Kee asked about the number of small and medium-sized kindergartens and childcare operators that have ceased operations since 2015 and the support provided to them, with Minister Tan Chuan-Jin noting fewer than 30 preschools closed in 2015, representing about 2% of the total.
The government prioritizes quality, accessible, and affordable early childhood services through initiatives like the Anchor Operator and Partner Operator schemes, which help operators control fees and improve quality, with smaller operators achieving economies of scale.
Broad-based initiatives such as the Skills Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education, Professional Development Programme, and funding for smart solutions support educator attraction, training, and sector productivity for all operators.
Support schemes like the Community and Sports Facilities Scheme, Portable Rental Subsidies, and Workplace Child Care Centre Scheme help operators defray costs and maintain affordable fees, provided they meet quality and affordability requirements.
Small and medium-sized operators can also access capability development grants and vouchers from SPRING Singapore for staff training, technology adoption, and consultancy in areas like human resources, financial management, innovation, and productivity.

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7 Nov 2016

Affordability of Childcare Services since 2008 Review

The government has increased affordable childcare through the Anchor Operator and Partner Operator schemes, which now cover almost half the market and have fee caps of $720 and $800 respectively, helping lower the industry median fee from $900 to $856.
Childcare subsidies include a basic $300 monthly subsidy for working mothers and additional subsidies of up to $440 for lower- and middle-income families, reducing costs significantly, with some low-income families paying as little as $3 per month.
The Child Development Account (CDA) First Step grant was introduced this year to help cover childcare and other child-related expenses, adding to the support framework.
The government is committed to ongoing reviews of childcare subsidies and policies to maintain affordability and quality for families.

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10 Oct 2016

Options for Executive Condominium Owners Who Have Not Met Minimum Occupation Period

Miss Cheng Li Hui inquired about the sale and accommodation options for Executive Condominium owners who divorce before completing the five-year Minimum Occupation Period, especially those with children.
Lawrence Wong explained that one party may retain the EC unit if eligible, such as by having children under their custody or including parents or a new spouse as co-owners.
If neither party is eligible to retain the unit, HDB may permit sale before the MOP is met based on case merits, allowing the parties to seek alternative housing like resale flats or rental options.

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10 Oct 2016

Cases Dealt with by Commissioner and Tribunal for Maintenance of Parents

The Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents mediated 221 cases in 2015 and 136 cases from January to August 2016, with an 80% resolution rate since 2011.
Tribunal applications fell from an annual average of 170 before 2011 to 67 from 2012-2014, 36 in 2015, and 51 from January to August 2016, due to the conciliation-first approach.
The Ministry plans to promote filial piety and responsible parenting, particularly encouraging active fatherhood, to strengthen family bonds and reduce the need for legal maintenance actions.
The Commissioner and Tribunal refer cases where children cannot afford maintenance to social support officers to ensure the elderly’s basic needs are met, which also reduces official filings.

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10 Oct 2016

Divorce and Marriage Trends by Income Group

The Minister reported that for marriages between 2007 and 2009, the dissolution rate before the fifth anniversary was stable at 6.4% to 6.8%, with higher dissolution rates generally observed among marriages where the groom had lower educational qualifications.
Approximately 7.1% to 7.9% of marriages between Singapore Citizens and Non-Residents dissolved within five years, and the Ministry noted a potential upward trend but requires more data to confirm it.
The Ministry has introduced marriage support programmes, including preparation and support programmes for cross-cultural marriages and mandatory marriage preparation for young couples, to strengthen marriages and address challenges faced by different income groups.

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10 Oct 2016

Special Dependant Pass for Foreign Women with Singapore Citizen Spouses or Children

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh proposed a special dependant pass for foreign mothers of Singapore citizen children or pregnant women expecting such children, to exempt them from ICA interviews at checkpoints.
Minister K Shanmugam rejected the proposal, stressing that security screening at borders must apply to all, including foreign spouses, to avoid creating exploitable gaps for security threats.
He noted that ICA already provides facilitation for travellers with special needs, such as pregnant women or the elderly, but without compromising security protocols.

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10 Oct 2016

Civil Servants in Part-time and Job-sharing Arrangements

The number of civil servants in part-time work arrangements rose from 1,415 in 2011 to 2,019 in 2015, with no data collected on job-sharing.
Ministries and Statutory Boards offer flexible work options like staggered hours, telecommuting, and part-time work for eligible officers, including mothers and caregivers.
Additional support for mothers and caregivers includes various leave provisions such as parent-care, childcare, maternity, and paternity leave.

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10 Oct 2016

Number and Length of Stay at Crisis Shelters for Abused Women and Their Children

Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked about the number of abused women and children seeking temporary shelter, their average stay length, and whether more shelters are needed.
Over the past three years, an average of 240 abused women and children sought refuge annually at the four Ministry-funded crisis shelters.
The average length of stay at these shelters was four months.
The Ministry stated that current shelter capacity is sufficient, so there are no plans to establish more shelters.
The Ministry will continue to monitor the adequacy of its services for abuse victims.

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10 Oct 2016

Subsidy for Maternity and Delivery Services at Restructured Hospitals for non-Singaporean Women

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked whether non-Singaporean women whose child will be a Singapore Citizen at birth should receive subsidies for maternity and delivery at public hospitals.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that subsidies are differentiated by citizenship, with citizens receiving higher benefits, and this principle applies to all healthcare services including maternity.
The minister noted that newborns who are Singaporeans are eligible for subsidies and other benefits, and that MOH has extended inpatient subsidies to non-citizen spouses on Long-Term Visit Pass-Plus since 2012.
Gan Kim Yong emphasized that extending further subsidies to foreigners who are not Permanent Residents or Long-Term Visit Pass-Plus holders would require careful consideration due to policy objectives and costs borne by Singaporeans.

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10 Oct 2016

Rationale behind Policy of Not Recognising Children of Unwed Mothers as Legitimate Children

The policy upholds marriage as the foundation of society by providing benefits such as the Baby Bonus, housing perks, and tax reliefs primarily to families with legitimate children, while still offering essential benefits like education and healthcare subsidies to all children regardless of legitimacy.
Unwed mothers facing financial hurdles in adopting their own child to grant legitimacy can seek legal aid from the Legal Aid Bureau, subject to means and merits tests, to cover legal fees.
For illegitimate children whose mothers die without a will, they may inherit the mother’s estate if there are no surviving legitimate children, and social service offices assess and provide support for vulnerable minors, with court intervention available if needed.

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10 Oct 2016

Employers' Obligations to Offer Insurance and Medical Coverage for Female Employees in Response to Zika Virus Threat

Ms K Thanaletchimi questioned whether the Government would raise awareness of employers' obligations to provide medical coverage, paid leave, and insurance for female employees amid the Zika virus threat.
Minister Lim Swee Say confirmed that advisories have been issued for past health crises like H1N1 and MERS-CoV, outlining employer obligations in pre-travel checks, precautions during travel, and paid sick leave and medical coverage for infected employees.
The Minister noted that these obligations also apply to local Zika transmission, with MOM recently issuing advisories to employers and dormitory operators on measures to limit spread and manage pregnant or suspected infected employees.
MOM is collaborating with relevant agencies to enhance checks at worksites and dormitories, emphasizing that workers, employers, and dormitory operators must all contribute to minimizing local Zika transmission.

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10 Oct 2016

Transparency in Criteria for Obtaining Permanent Residency and Citizenship

The Minister explained that PR and citizenship applications are assessed holistically on factors like economic contributions, education, family ties, and length of stay, but detailed criteria are kept confidential to avoid sensitivities in applicants’ countries of origin.
He noted that children under 21 may qualify for citizenship if born to a Singapore citizen parent, even if the foreign parent does not meet the criteria, to avoid denying the child’s entitlement.
For foreign parents who do not qualify, the government may issue Long-Term Visit Passes (LTVP or LTVP+) to allow them to remain in Singapore with their families, especially if they are single caregivers.
The Minister stated there are no current plans to make the criteria more transparent, as the government’s approach prioritizes national interests and the assessment of each applicant’s commitment to Singapore.
The debate highlighted concerns about fairness for foreign-born single parents, with the government emphasizing a case-by-case approach to balance family unity and immigration policies.

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10 Oct 2016

Enhancing Home-based Care Options for Young Children, Elderly and Disabled

The government has expanded home-based care services for seniors and introduced the Home and Community Care Masterplan to improve home-based care quality and flexibility, including training eldercarers and piloting new care models.
Parents receive enhanced parental leave provisions and financial support, such as the Baby Bonus Cash Gift with Baby Bonus Plus, to help with caregiving costs and bonding with newborns.
Caregivers of persons with disabilities can access training grants, support centres, and a pilot home-based care services program providing therapy and daily living assistance.
Families hiring foreign domestic workers for caregiving receive a concessionary levy and monthly grants to offset costs, especially for low-income households caring for seniors or persons with disabilities.

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10 Oct 2016

Professional Skills Training Elements in SkillsFuture Courses

Miss Cheryl Chan asked about the percentage of SkillsFuture courses with professional skills training, whether courses can be customized for different industries, and if a tailored package for women returning to the workforce will be considered.
Ong Ye Kung stated that over 15,000 skills-based courses are listed, covering 50 training areas, and are professionally useful for vocational needs, with continuous efforts to expand offerings.
He noted that effective guidance, not lack of courses, is key for groups like women returning to work, who may need support in language, IT, and sector-specific skills.

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10 Oct 2016

Success Rate of Applicants Getting BTO Flats under Married Child Priority Scheme

Since the Married Child Priority Scheme was launched in 2014, over 1,600 BTO flat applications were successful in 2015 alone, with success rates of about 85% in non-mature estates and 47% in mature estates, both higher than rates for public applicants.
The government reserves up to 45% of public flat supply for MCPS applicants and offers unsuccessful applicants another chance to ballote with the general public to ensure families can live near each other for mutual support.
Additional schemes like the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme, 3Gen flats, Proximity Housing Grant, and higher income ceilings for extended families further help families live together or in proximity.

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10 Oct 2016

Ownership of HDB Flats of Deceased Singaporeans with Foreign Spouses and Children

Darryl David asked what happens to HDB flats when a Singaporean with a foreign non-PR/citizen spouse passes away, especially if there are Singaporean minor children.
Lawrence Wong stated a non-citizen spouse can keep the flat if they become a Singaporean or PR within one year, or if a Singaporean/PR family member aged 21 or above takes over the flat.
If the foreign spouse has Singaporean minor children, HDB may allow a Singaporean/PR trustee to hold the flat until the children turn 21.

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10 Oct 2016

Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment No 2) Bill

The Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment No 2) Bill was introduced to amend the Child Development Co-Savings Act.
The bill was presented by Minister for Social and Family Development Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, with the President’s recommendation signified.
The bill was read for the first time and scheduled for a second reading in the next parliamentary sitting.

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13 Sep 2016

Reasons Given by Teachers for Quitting Teaching Service or Not Renewing Contracts

Teachers who resign cite childcare, other family considerations, and a desire for a change of job as their top three reasons, while those taking no-pay leave do so mainly for childcare, accompanying a spouse overseas, and other private matters.
The Ministry clarified that education officers are generally appointed on permanent service, not contracts, so departures are through resignation rather than non-renewal of contracts.
The data shared pertains to resignation reasons and no-pay leave, with no specific figures provided in the debate.

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13 Sep 2016

Availability of and Subsidy for Student Care Places

The Ministry of Social and Family Development states that there are currently over 400 Student Care Centres providing more than 30,000 places, which is sufficient to meet overall demand, though some locations may have higher demand.
The Ministry of Education plans to establish an SCC in every primary school by 2020 and will expand the capacity of existing school-based centres without compromising quality.
Subsidies for student care fees were recently enhanced in January, raising the household income criteria to $4,000 and per capita income to $1,000, with increased subsidy amounts allowing some families to pay as little as $5 monthly.
The Ministry will continue to monitor demand and assess the need for further subsidy enhancements in future reviews, but has not committed to extending subsidies up to the 50th percentile household income level.

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