Social welfare — Topics

16 May 2018

Debate on President's Address

Several MPs highlighted the need to support SMEs through transformation, improve infrastructure like HDB flats and community hubs, and foster a gracious, considerate society to overcome national challenges.
There were calls to further liberalise MediSave use for outpatient treatments, exempt primary healthcare from GST, and expand MediShield Life coverage to include pregnancy complications and mental health conditions.
Emphasis was placed on creating inclusive workplaces by supporting older workers and women through flexible work arrangements, while addressing social inequality and class divides in education through equitable school funding and admissions.

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15 May 2018

Debate on President's Address

Multiple MPs emphasized that tackling income inequality and social stratification is a top priority for the new generation of leaders, arguing that while meritocracy is a core value, the government must provide targeted support in housing, education, and employment to ensure a fair starting point and uphold the social compact.
Several speakers highlighted the need for Singapore to undergo bold economic transformation, particularly by embracing the digital economy, investing in lifelong learning and skills upgrading, and preparing the workforce for technological disruptions and the rise of Southeast Asia's markets.
Concerns were raised about specific groups being left behind, including low-wage workers, mature workers, freelancers in the gig economy, and single parents, with calls for more robust policies such as expanding the Progressive Wage Model and improving retirement and housing adequacy.
MPs urged the government and tripartite partners to strengthen social mixing and inclusivity across different socio-economic groups through housing, education, and national service policies to prevent the formation of entrenched class divides.

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14 May 2018

Debate on President's Address

The debate highlighted the need for education reforms, including pilot programs for special-needs students, de-emphasizing academic excellence by valuing community involvement, and fostering soft skills and creativity from a young age to prepare students for a dynamic future economy.
Speakers emphasized strengthening Singapore's global connectivity through trade agreements, digital infrastructure, and talent development, while urging a collaborative government-business approach to drive economic transformation and support workers in a changing job landscape.
Discussions focused on addressing housing affordability for aged HDB flats, supporting women and seniors through targeted policies, and tackling the cost of living by differentiating needs from wants while promoting a culture of giving and volunteerism to build a more inclusive society.

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7 May 2018

Ministry of Social and Family Development

MSF will expand preschool capacity and bilingual support so that most children can access affordable, quality early childhood education by 2023, while supporting educators and developing early support for low-income families through KidSTART.
MSF aims to strengthen families and support marriages, provide assistance through Social Service Offices to make help more accessible, and intervene more effectively for youths-at-risk through integrated and preventive approaches.
MSF will enhance support for persons with disabilities through the Enabling Masterplan, care for seniors with planning tools and community support, and introduce stronger legal protections for children and vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect.
MSF will grow the social service sector by developing professionals and voluntary welfare organisations, encourage meaningful community giving, and foster a caring society through stronger partnerships with the community.

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7 May 2018

Ministry of Manpower

The Ministry of Manpower outlined a strategy to create an agile, inclusive workforce and progressive workplaces through tripartism, focusing on business transformation, worker adaptation to technology, and stronger retirement adequacy via CPF and work options.
Support measures include scaling up schemes like Lean Enterprise Development and SkillsFuture for Enterprises, enhancing mid-career reskilling programs, and using technology to improve job matching through the MyCareersFuture portal.
The ministry will extend employment protections, promote fair wages through the Progressive Wage Model, support flexible work arrangements for caregivers, and improve inclusivity for seniors, persons with disabilities, and ex-offenders.
Foreign manpower policy will remain calibrated to support economic goals while protecting local workers, with efforts to transfer global expertise and build a complementary local-foreign workforce.
Initiatives to ensure safe workplaces, support self-employed and gig workers, and strengthen retirement planning include amending the Work Injury Compensation Act, expanding the Return-To-Work programme, and enhancing CPF consultation services.

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20 Mar 2018

Subsidies for Incontinence Treatment

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Ministry of Health about the number of seniors with incontinence, treatment costs, and potential subsidies for early treatment.
The Senior Minister of State for Health stated that exact data is unavailable but noted 2,900 seniors received subsidised incontinence treatment recently, with median annual costs under $10 after subsidies; seniors can get up to 75% subsidies at polyclinics and additional help from medical social workers.
Er Dr Lee Bee Wah suggested more awareness programmes by the Health Promotion Board to prevent incontinence, and the Ministry agreed to collaborate with community partners on preventive talks.
Dr Tan Wu Meng raised concerns about the cost of consumables like adult diapers, and the Ministry highlighted the Seniors Mobility and Enabling Fund, which offers means-tested subsidies for such items.
The Ministry offered to work with Dr Tan to raise awareness about assistance for incontinence-related consumables in his constituency.

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19 Mar 2018

Utilisation of Respite Care Services and Median and Range of Fees Charged

The median daily respite care fee in Q4 2017 was $74.40, with fees ranging up to $107, but after subsidies, 62% of families paid less than $10 per day and 14% had fees fully waived.
Respite care is provided by 10 homes (seven Adult Disability Homes and three Children Disability Homes), with 80 available spaces and an average utilisation rate below 10% in Q4 2017.
The capacity of respite care services has been assessed as sufficient to meet projected demand over the next five years.

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19 Mar 2018

Singapore's Gini Co-efficient after Government Taxes and Transfers vis-a-vis Other Major Developed Economies in Last Five Years

Leon Perera asked how Singapore's Gini coefficient after taxes and transfers compared to other major developed economies over the last five years.
Heng Swee Keat explained that Singapore's Gini is calculated based on household income per member, while the OECD uses a different methodology, leading to different comparisons.
Before taxes and transfers, Singapore's Gini is lower than many major economies, but after taxes and transfers, some countries show lower inequality due to higher taxes and social transfers.
Singapore's approach focuses on low taxes and targeted support for lower-income groups, which differs from the broader redistributive policies of other countries.
The comparison does not fully account for unique Singapore policies, such as subsidies for HDB flats, which contribute to housing affordability and quality of life.

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19 Mar 2018

Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund for Second Mobility Device

Joan Pereira asked whether seniors can apply for a second mobility device under the SMF if their first one becomes irreparable.
The Ministry of Health clarified that SMF subsidies primarily target the first device, but exceptional cases for replacements may be assessed case-by-case by the Agency for Integrated Care.
The Ministry emphasized that financial need and circumstances will be considered when approving such replacement applications.

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7 Mar 2018

Committee of Supply – Head I (Ministry of Social and Family Development)

Parliament debated enhancing the SG Cares movement to foster a caring society, with MPs seeking updates on volunteer coordination, data on volunteer engagement, and strategies to make volunteering more accessible, especially for youth and busy citizens.
Ministers outlined plans to improve social service delivery, including making Social Service Offices (SSOs) central one-stop touchpoints, simplifying applications for assistance schemes, and strengthening inter-agency collaboration to provide holistic support for vulnerable families and seniors.
Discussions highlighted the need to tackle inequality, support early childhood education (expanding preschools and mother-tongue teaching), and strengthen support for caregivers and persons with disabilities through the Enabling Masterplan and community partnerships.

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1 Mar 2018

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

The government outlined a fiscal strategy to address rising expenditures in healthcare, security, and preschools, financed through a planned GST increase from 2021–2025, prudent use of reserves, and borrowing for long-term infrastructure, while ensuring progressivity through offsets like the GST Voucher scheme.
Parliament debated the budget's alignment with shared values, with concerns raised about the GST hike's impact on lower- and middle-income households, the Wage Credit Scheme's extension, and the need for stronger partnerships to support SMEs and economic transformation.
The Workers' Party expressed reservations about the announced GST increase, citing uncertainty and the need for more details, but supported the budget's measures; the Finance Minister defended the approach as responsible and necessary, leading to a division where the budget was approved with 89 "Ayes" to 8 "Noes".

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28 Feb 2018

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

The debate on the Annual Budget Statement highlighted the government's long-term fiscal strategy, including a planned GST increase by 2% between 2021 and 2025 to fund rising healthcare, security, and infrastructure costs, which was supported by some as prudent stewardship but criticized by others as a distraction from the Budget's vision.
Members emphasized the need to support an ageing population, with proposals to enhance eldercare, review policies for seniors and low-income families, and promote inclusivity through measures like the Proximity Housing Grant and better financial assistance schemes.
Discussions focused on economic transformation, with calls to boost SMEs, invest in skills training, and leverage innovation and technology to maintain Singapore's competitiveness, while also addressing inequality and ensuring equitable support for vulnerable groups.

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28 Feb 2018

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

Members praised the Budget's forward-looking approach, but raised concerns about the proposed GST hike and its impact on inflation and competitiveness, suggesting a delay or alternative revenue sources.
Several speakers highlighted the need for better support for businesses, including rental cost relief for SMEs and more effective innovation policies, while emphasizing the importance of nurturing an innovation spirit in education.
The debate stressed the urgency of addressing social inequality and an ageing population, with calls for progressive tax reforms, stronger support for older workers, and initiatives to enhance social mobility and community care.

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27 Feb 2018

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

The Budget addresses rising expenditures on healthcare, infrastructure, and an ageing population, with a planned GST increase from 7% to 9% between 2021 and 2025 to ensure fiscal sustainability, accompanied by offset packages for lower- and middle-income households.
Economic transformation is prioritized through Industry Transformation Maps, SkillsFuture initiatives, and support for businesses, including grants for digitalization and innovation, while emphasizing the need for workforce upskilling and adaptability in the face of technological disruption.
Debates highlighted concerns about social mobility, gender inequality, and support for vulnerable groups, with calls for more progressive taxation, better caregiver support, and policies to address retirement adequacy and low-wage workers' conditions.

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27 Feb 2018

Higher Standard of Living while Maintaining Lower Cost of Living

Gan Thiam Poh inquired about the rise in Singapore's cost of living for basic necessities since 2010 compared to other cities and how the government plans to maintain a higher standard of living while keeping costs low.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry highlighted that Singapore's inflation rate averaged 1.8% annually from 2010 to 2017, comparable to or lower than South Korea and Taiwan, but with recent inflation declining to 0.6% in 2017.
The Ministry noted that real household income growth outpaced inflation during this period, and the government provides support through measures like GST vouchers, Workfare, and Silver Support to mitigate cost-of-living concerns.
The government commits to monitoring inflation trends, ensuring economic competitiveness for sustained income growth, and offering targeted social assistance to help Singaporeans achieve a higher standard of living.

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19 Feb 2018

Annual Budget Statement

The Minister outlined a strategic budget focused on adapting to three major shifts: global economic weight moving towards Asia, technological disruption, and an ageing population, aiming to build a vibrant, innovative economy, a smart and green city, and a caring society while ensuring fiscal sustainability.
To support the economy, the budget extends the Wage Credit Scheme and Corporate Income Tax rebate, defers foreign worker levy increases for struggling sectors, and introduces new measures like the Productivity Solutions Grant and enhanced tax deductions for R&D and IP to foster innovation and capability building.
For society, the budget enhances education and housing grants, expands support for seniors through initiatives like the Community Networks for Seniors, and extends tax incentives to encourage volunteerism and philanthropy to foster a caring and cohesive society.
To ensure fiscal sustainability for the coming decade, the budget plans for increased spending on healthcare, infrastructure, and security by saving ahead in new funds, considering borrowing for infrastructure, and announcing a planned GST increase from 7% to 9% between 2021 and 2025, implemented progressively with offsets for lower-income households.

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19 Feb 2018

Criteria to Determine Childcare and Preschool Subsidies

The Government provides universal Basic Subsidies of $150–$300 per month for Singapore Citizen children, with Additional Subsidies for working mothers in households with income thresholds of $7,500 or $1,875 per capita, and further support through schemes like KiFAS for kindergartens.
Childcare and preschool affordability is supported by fee caps for operators, the Baby Bonus Cash Gift, Child Development Account co-savings, and a growing share of market-stabilising Government-supported preschools.
Subsidy criteria were last reviewed in 2013 for childcare and 2015 for kindergarten assistance, with ongoing reviews of all measures to maintain affordability and quality.
For non-working or part-time working mothers, the Government offers half-day kindergarten options and considers case-by-case exemptions for childcare support based on individual circumstances such as health or caregiving obligations.

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19 Feb 2018

Enhancing Public Awareness of Special Needs Children and Needs of Their Parents and Caregivers

The Ministry of Social and Family Development highlighted ongoing public education campaigns like NCSS's "See the True Me" and inclusive infrastructure such as playgrounds to raise awareness of special needs children and their caregivers.
The Ministry, in collaboration with tripartite partners, encourages employers to support parents through flexible work arrangements, citing resources like the Work-Life Grant and the Tripartite Standard on FWAs.
Members of Parliament suggested more direct engagement with employers and HR teams, as well as sustainable daily awareness efforts using public spaces and established organizations like the Pioneer Generation Office.
The Ministry acknowledged these suggestions and emphasized the need for collective effort across public, private, and people sectors to build a more inclusive society.

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6 Feb 2018

Support for Senior Citizens

Parliamentarians recognize seniors as invaluable contributors to society and call for strengthened support to ensure they age with dignity, emphasizing community initiatives and government action to address challenges like retirement adequacy and healthcare.
Proposed policy changes include creating more affordable and dignified living options for seniors, such as assisted living and retirement villages, and enabling them to monetize housing assets to fund their retirement years.
Suggestions also focus on enhancing employability and volunteerism for seniors, bridging the digital divide, improving caregiver support through leave provisions, and promoting intergenerational bonding and mental wellness programs.

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6 Feb 2018

Applications received for HDB Season Parking for Persons with Disability

The Car Park Label Scheme (CPLS) has been in place since 1980 and offers two types of labels for drivers with disabilities and caregivers transporting persons with disabilities.
SG Enable processes over 3,000 applications annually for CPLS, with more than 90% approved.
Unsuccessful applications are primarily due to medical professionals assessing that the applicant can use standard parking lots without needing accessible spaces.

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