Family & gender

Cai Yinzhou asked if there has been an assessment of the Baby Bonus and parental leave enhancements on Singapore's fertility rate. Indranee Rajah responded that it is challenging to isolate the impact of individual policies since the Marriage and Parenthood package is designed to work together to support families. Feedback indicates that these enhancements are well-received, with parents believing they encourage childbearing through increased financial support and time with newborns. The government will continue to monitor and review the effectiveness of the Marriage and Parenthood package to better assist families.

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat raised concerns about the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) application policy for foreign spouses of lower-income elderly Singaporeans, questioning how it prevents a situation where inadequate income prevents spouses from working. K Shanmugam explained that the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) considers multiple factors in LTVP assessments, such as marriage duration, children, financial sustainability, and any declared caregiving needs. He emphasized the importance of couples understanding the possibility of obtaining long-term stay for foreign partners before marriage. Each application aims to ensure it does not impose additional financial burdens on Singaporean taxpayers.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik questioned the Minister for Manpower regarding the number of working adults leaving employment due to eldercare commitments from 2021 to 2025, asking for demographic breakdowns by age and gender, and the possibility of mandating eldercare leave. Tan See Leng reported that on average, 1,500 individuals per year, or about 11.9%, left their jobs due to eldercare commitments. The Government is evaluating how to support working caregivers while balancing employer needs and caregiver employability, with a focus on promoting flexible work arrangements as a primary form of support. Additionally, the Government will continue to review and enhance support schemes for working caregivers.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik questioned the existence of nationality-based restrictions or quotas for Long-Term Visit Pass applications for foreign spouses, along with approval and rejection rates by nationality over the past five years. K Shanmugam responded that several factors influence the approval of these applications, including marriage length, children from the marriage, financial support capacity, and any adverse records. Detailed criteria and nationality-based approval rates are not published to protect international relations and prevent potential exploitation of the system.

• The debate focused on Singapore's Budget 2026, emphasizing resilience through fiscal prudence amid ongoing global uncertainties, including the rise of AI and its impact on the economy and workforce.
• Speakers discussed the need for equitable access to education and technology, advocating for initiatives that prepare all Singaporeans for an AI-driven economy, including extending personal learning devices to primary students.
• Attention was given to the "sandwich generation," with calls for more support for families juggling caregiving responsibilities and the need for flexible work arrangements to facilitate career progression while managing family duties.
• The importance of supporting seniors and lower-income workers affected by technological changes was highlighted, with suggestions for job redesign and dedicated re-skilling programs.
• Overall, the Budget was viewed as a strategic opportunity to invest in people, enhance social cohesion, and ensure that economic growth translates into tangible benefits for all Singaporeans.

Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked about specific statistics on the 2,136 new spousal abuse cases reported in the Domestic Violence Trends Report 2025, including gender, age, type of abuse, and referral sources. Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that the Ministry of Social and Family Development does not currently track detailed data on spousal abuse demographics or types, but is collaborating with community agencies to gather this information. Self-referrals are a significant source of cases managed by Family Service Centres, and further details can be found in the Domestic Violence Trends Report 2025.

Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked about the 2,136 spousal abuse cases in 2024, specifically regarding counter-reports, assessment protocols for identifying the primary aggressor, and safeguards against coercive control tactics. Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that detailed data on counter-reports is not available due to varying agency recording practices. Protection Specialist Centres and Family Service Centres utilize frameworks to assess domestic violence dynamics through structured interviews and case history reviews, aiming for objective assessments. The public is encouraged to seek help through the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline or online reporting.

Diana Pang Li Yen raised concerns about the adoption process for unmarried and lower-income mothers wanting to adopt their biological children, questioning its complexity and cost. Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that the adoption process is necessary to protect child welfare and involves significant legal implications. He acknowledged that challenges exist for unmarried mothers, particularly those with financial difficulties, but noted that fee waivers and legal aid are available to assist them. The Ministry is not currently proposing a simpler pathway for adoption.

David Hoe asked whether HDB would allow parent and child applicants to have a single joint queue number and one booking appointment under the Family Care Scheme for selecting two units concurrently. Chee Hong Tat explained that the Family Care Scheme (FCS) permits parents and children to apply for two units together and provides each a distinct queue number for more choices compared to the previous Multi-Generation Priority Scheme. The HDB is willing to exercise flexibility for applicants facing limited choices at the end of the booking exercise.

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat raised questions regarding the tax implications of the fixed-dollar Working Mother's Child Relief (WMCR) for working mothers with children born in 2024. Indranee Rajah responded that approximately 9,500 working mothers paid higher income tax in Year of Assessment 2025 due to the WMCR change, which aims to provide equal support for children regardless of income. The government anticipates spending nearly $7 billion on marriage and parenthood initiatives by FY 2026, significantly outpacing any additional tax revenue from the WMCR changes. Furthermore, projecting future tax revenue from the WMCR change is difficult due to various influencing factors.

Nadia Ahmad Samdin questioned the Minister for Home Affairs about follow-up measures for serious cases of misconduct and violence involving children under the minimum age of criminal responsibility. K Shanmugam explained that the law acknowledges these children lack maturity to understand their actions and prioritizes safety and rehabilitation over criminal liability. The police utilize referral mechanisms to support rehabilitation, including connections with schools, Family Service Centres, and mental health assessments. Families are encouraged to be involved in their child's rehabilitation, and in severe cases, can seek a Family Guidance Order for mandated interventions by the Youth Court.

Gho Sze Kee asked about the Housing and Development Board's (HDB) target supply of 4,000 units under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) by the end of 2025, and the implications for just married or affianced couples applying for the scheme. Indranee Rajah confirmed that HDB has met its target and that the highest priority for PPHS allocation goes to families with children, followed by couples without children and then fiancés. Gho expressed concerns from residents who were unsuccessful in applications, asking if the Ministry would consider using other available flats for the scheme, including those from the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS). Indranee explained that while they are maximizing the use of SERS vacant flats, the LBS flats are generally sold to purchasers, and that a balance of housing strategies is being pursued to address ongoing demand.

Eileen Chong Pei Shan inquired about the number of women who have undergone elective egg freezing since its introduction in July 2023, the age distribution of these women, and the average out-of-pocket cost for the procedure at public hospitals. Ong Ye Kung reported that over 800 women have undergone elective egg freezing as of December 2025, with 57% aged 35 and above, 39% between 30 to 34 years, and 4% under 30 years. The average cost for one cycle of elective egg freezing at public hospitals is approximately $10,000.

Choo Pei Ling raised questions about the PREDICT Programme, specifically regarding the number of couples screened, the distribution of screenings before and during pregnancy, outreach methods, potential expansion to all obstetric clinics, and timelines for such expansion. Ong Ye Kung responded that the PREDICT programme is a pilot initiative started in 2024 at KK Women's and Children's Hospital to screen for specific genetic conditions not covered by existing tests, with 674 couples screened by the end of 2025 during pre-conception. The Ministry of Health will evaluate the pilot's effectiveness to decide on mainstreaming the PREDICT tests.

Ng Shi Xuan asked if the Government would increase benefits for large families under the new Large Families Scheme introduced in 2025, specifically regarding U-Save utility rebates and GST vouchers. Jeffrey Siow explained that the scheme aims to support families with three or more children and builds on existing subsidies that provide greater support per child. He clarified that other social schemes, like the GST Voucher, are means-tested to prioritize aid for lower-income households. The Government will continue to review social schemes to ensure targeted assistance for households in need.

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked about the publication of child-raising expenditure estimates, the reference data for determining the Baby Bonus quantum, and evaluations of cashflow fit against infant care expenses for lower-income households. Indranee Rajah affirmed the government's commitment to support families with various financial aids, noting that they do not publish specific child-raising expenditure estimates due to variability in family needs. She explained that the Baby Bonus Scheme is informed by household income and parent feedback, with adjustments made to enhance support during a child’s early years. Additional support measures include grants, subsidies for childcare and infant care, and programs like the Child Development Account, which helps cover approved child-related expenses. The government continuously reviews support measures to assist parents with the costs of raising children.

Foo Cexiang asked about appeals by Singapore-foreigner spouses to purchase HDB flats other than BTO 2-room Flexi flats in the past three years. Chee Hong Tat explained that Singaporeans with non-resident spouses and a Singaporean or SPR child can purchase any size of HDB flats, while those without such children can only buy a 2-room Flexi flat if they meet certain criteria. From 2023 to 2025, HDB received 16 appeals from couples seeking to purchase larger flats, but none were successful due to the availability of alternative housing options.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik raised concerns about preschool safety transparency, asking if ECDA would implement measures for better disclosure of safety violations and enforcement actions, as well as information access for parents regarding safety records. Goh Pei Ming assured that ECDA takes child safety seriously, enforces strict measures against violators, and requires preschools to notify parents of serious incidents, though specific names are not disclosed to protect children involved. The Minister emphasized that licensing information displayed publicly helps parents make informed choices, and noted that responses to incidents depend on court rulings, with gag orders affecting information disclosure.

Elysa Chen queried the Minister for Manpower about the number of mothers who re-entered the workforce after caregiving breaks via the Career Conversion Programme and SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme over the last five years. Tan See Leng responded that Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore do not track the maternal status of participants in these programmes.

Cassandra Lee questioned the Minister for Social and Family Development about potential measures for adoption agencies and families to improve due diligence before adoption. Masagos Zulkifli B M M confirmed that Singapore agencies are collaborating with Indonesian authorities regarding recent child trafficking allegations. The Ministry will assess whether to enhance existing adoption processes based on clearer facts, while considering the trade-offs such measures may involve, such as longer processing times and potential impacts on legitimate adoptions.