Masagos Zulkifli B M M
Singapore
“Coordination between Early Intervention (EI) centres, families and preschools is important for the continuity of support for children with developmental needs.”
“The Taxi Subsidy Scheme supports persons with disabilities (PwDs) who are unable to take public transport, by providing means-tested subsidies to offset the cost of taxi travel to school, work and employment-related training supported by SG Enable.”
“The Skills and Salary Guidelines published by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) guides social service agencies (SSAs) to pay their employees fair and competitive remuneration and maintain the sector's attractiveness. The Guidelines are adjusted so that salaries remain competitive with comparable roles in competing markets.”
“Staff turnover rates vary across social service agencies (SSAs). An individual's decision to leave an organisation is influenced by a myriad of factors, of which pay is only one.”
“Beyond the requirement of a structured daily programme, community-based SCFA administrators have the flexibility to offer programmes and additional enrichment activities that meet the needs of their students. MSF does not track staff salaries and turnover of SCCs in general nor those that administer SCFA.”
“Male preschool educators comprised about 1% of the early childhood workforce in each of the last five years. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has not issued guidelines pertaining to the rules set by preschool centres specific to the conduct of male preschool educators.”
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“We are pioneering unique approaches to tackle complex issues that have inspired others in the regional and international community. As we commemorate SG60, let us renew our shared commitment to play our part to build a society full of opportunities for all. Together, we can build a resilient tomorrow with our collective strengths of today, to build a Singapore where no one is left behind. [Applause.]”
“Second, we will support families in a proactive way. Support should not only be available when issues become too complex for families. Instead, we proactively link families up with community resources early. The Cinta Abadi (Eternal Love) programme sets the stage for soon-to-wed Malay/Muslim couples to have effective communication and encourage them to discuss about managing expectations and challenges early. Third, we will take a strengths-based approach to supporting families. We will also strengthen the social sector so that we are responsive to evolving needs. We will work closely with the sector to re-imagine the social services landscape to uplift the quality of care of the Social Residential Homes and strengthen NCSS’ role as a sector developer. These efforts to strengthen families are also made possible by the contributions of our social service professionals. As such, we have dedicated 2025 as the Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals. We want to make social service a career of choice and a sector that attracts and nurtures talent. (In English): Mr Chairman, through our efforts over the recent years, together with our sector partners and professionals, we have made good progress in empowering resilient and thriving families in Singapore. We will continue to strengthen families through family-centred, strength-based and proactive initiatives. Looking ahead, we are excited to embark on this journey to collectively see, shape and build a social service sector that is dynamic and forward-looking, and a society of opportunities for all in Singapore. I am confident that with the strong capabilities we have built up in our sector professionals and academic community, Singapore can become a thought leader in the social service sector.”
“To do this, we recently launched the new Sector Awards for Social Service Professionals, including the new President’s Awards for Social Service Professionals, which will be the pinnacle award for the sector. It is my hope that, through all these efforts, the sector will constantly innovate new practices and approaches, and ultimately, to improve service delivery. There are many who are already doing so. Mr D Senthil Kumar, from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore, has been instrumental in integrating innovative technologies into physiotherapy to improve patient outcomes. For example, he was involved in introducing an advanced treadmill leveraging virtual reality for balance and motor function training in cerebral palsy rehabilitation. With this, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore's clients feel more motivated and engaged and are able to achieve their therapy outcomes. Mr Kumar's work inspires us to constantly innovate and upskill so that we can achieve better outcomes for those we serve. The social service sector offers a future with potential and rewarding opportunities and we seek to inspire more Singaporeans to join. Chairman, allow me to continue in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Families are the roots that grounds our society. They shape the values, well-being and future of our communities. Akin to roots that support trees to grow with resilience, when we strengthen families, we will also strengthen our society as a whole. The Government will continue to strengthen our efforts based on three key principles. First, we will strengthen our policies to be family-centred, and to support all families. A strong family is able to nurture children to fulfil their potential and contribute meaningfully to society.”
“Mr Keith Chua will be happy to know that we will provide more opportunities for passionate individuals to make a mid-career switch into the social service sector, such as through our Career Conversion Programmes. To Mr Melvin Yong's query, we have been steadily increasing the Skills and Salary Guidelines to be competitive with the market and commensurate with the professionals' contributions. We have been engaging employers to strengthen adherence with the guidelines. Today, about 80% of SSAs adhere to the salary guidelines. [Please refer to "Clarification by Minister for Social and Family Development", Official Report, 10 March 2025, Vol 95, Issue 161, Correction By Written Statement section.] The work in social services can be demanding, as Assoc Prof Razwana and Ms Carrie Tan noted. We will work with SSAs and empower SSA leaders. For example, the Social Service Institute's courses on organisational development equip SSA leaders to create a supportive work environment where our professionals feel valued, respected and empowered. NCSS also rolled out support for SSAs to conduct Employee Engagement Survey so that they take active steps to improve staff engagement and well-being. NCSS also provides social service professionals with training on self-care and resilience, and a Sabbatical Leave Scheme to recharge. Employers can also do their part. In MSF, for example, Child Protection Officers experiencing high levels of stress are granted time-off, and those requiring additional support are referred for specialised intervention. Third, the sector must continue to reward and recognise those who have contributed significantly to the cause.”
“Let me thank these companies and all those that have already come on board SG Gives and call on others to play our part in realising our vision of a Society of Opportunities. 12.45 pm Let me now highlight the significant role and contributions of our social service professionals. In recognition of this, we have dedicated 2025 as the Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals. For the sector, the road ahead will be an exciting one. We have been presented with the opportunity to reimagine the way we operate and support our families. To achieve this, we need to continue to invest in supporting and uplifting our social service professionals at each stage of their careers. To questions raised by Mr Keith Chua and Mr Baey Yam Keng, we are committed to offering attractive pathways for professional growth and development. First, we are committed to ensuring the competency of the sector. This starts by equipping social service professionals for their roles. To Assoc Prof Razwana's question, we work with Institutes of Higher Learning and SSAs to ensure curriculum and training programmes are relevant and based on industry needs. Once our professionals enter the workforce, they can stage their development based on the Skills Framework for Social Service, which lays out the required competencies and progression pathways. Much learning takes place on the job and conducted by employers. For instance, Child Protection Officers receive skills-based training, structured supervision and peer support to equip them for the challenges of their work. Second, we must attract and retain talent.”
“More individuals are volunteering regularly, and this coordinated effort has meant that we are better able to achieve greater impact. At the individual-level, many have also contributed through generous donations and we see more individuals donating directly to ComChest. We encourage individuals to continue to play their part through regular and sustained giving. Mr Melvin Yong noted that everyone must play their part in uplifting fellow citizens, particularly our vulnerable and low-income groups, as part of our social compact. As shared by Prime Minister in the Budget Speech, as part of SG60, the Government will launch a $250 million SG Gives matching grant to match donations made through Community Chest, President’s Challenge and Collective for a Stronger Society. This will amplify the impact of donations made towards key social programmes, supporting those with more needs in our community, including low-income families, PwDs, children and youths. The ComLink+ Progress Packages and KidSTART are some examples. Several corporate partners have already come forward to donate to these programmes and we want to encourage more Singaporeans to join us in uplifting families. Alongside nationwide programmes, the matching grant will also benefit community-led initiatives identified by ComChest, President’s Challenge or the Collective. Beyond programme funding, the Government is also studying further support for SSAs and the sector. We will share more details in due course. I am also heartened that since the announcement at Budget, PropNex, a local-listed real estate company has committed to contribute more than $1 million over three years for SG Gives in commemoration of SG60. The Rao Family Foundation, too, has come forward and will contribute $1 million over three years.”
“These community contributions complement Government funding for social services, which has grown over the years, allowing us to make a greater impact and invest more to build the sector’s capabilities. For our corporates, it means including corporate social responsibility as part of their business strategy and aligning their corporate purpose with their social mission. I am encouraged that more are stepping forward. Since we launched the Sustainable Philanthropy Framework last year, more than 40 businesses have adopted the framework to measure their social impact. I was also heartened to hear that at the recent travel fair, the National Association of Travel Agencies (NATAS), encouraged people to donate generously to communities in need and even displayed the ComChest donation QR code throughout the event hall. In addition, more employers are coming onboard SGSHARE, which allows employees to donate a small amount of their salary each month, through ComChest. Employers like Sheng Shiong, MoneyMax and Changi Airport Group have embraced SGSHARE. Together, they can bring close to 6,000 employees into our community of givers. I am heartened that small and medium enterprises (SMEs), such as Bright Point International and Red Beacon Asset Management, have also come onboard SGSHARE. This demonstrates that big or small, all businesses can play a part. Every contribution counts. At the community-level, individual efforts are organised for maximum impact. We have moved beyond individual ad hoc volunteering towards sustained and more impactful volunteering. The MSFCare Network now has more than 4,000 active volunteers. Through the Network, volunteering is personalised based on volunteers’ skills and interest, such as in mentoring or mobilising new volunteers.”
“In addition, NCSS, in collaboration with Tote Board, set up the Centre for Evidence in 2024 to propagate the Sector Evaluation Framework and partner SSAs to strengthen programme evaluation. We must continue to facilitate the sharing of best practices regionally and internationally. We can benefit other communities by providing thought leadership in areas where we have done well. At the Asian Family Conference 2024, various academics and practitioners shared Singapore's efforts in working with families and our approach to social issues. These resonated with local and regional researchers, policy-makers and practitioners, and inspired their thinking on similar challenges they face in their own communities and countries. We will also be hosting two conferences this year. In April, we are partnering IPS to hold the inaugural International Conference for Societies of Opportunity to discuss how countries can do more to address the important issue of social mobility. In July, NCSS will host the Social Service Summit. This year, for the first time, we will also invite social service leaders from the region to facilitate connections and enrich our learning. By boldly re-imagining, transforming or restructuring the way we work, and creating platforms for sharing and collaboration, we will forge a social sector that is dynamic and forward looking. Mr Chairman, beyond the social service sector, we aim to build a society of opportunities through a collective effort, where all Singaporeans will have opportunities to flourish. We all have a role in creating this society of opportunities and must collectively uplift the members of our society.”
“Beyond residential services, we are also committed to enhancing support for vulnerable individuals in other areas, as Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim has raised. Our efforts are tailored to meet the needs of different groups in a culturally sensitive and effective manner. This enables us to create stable, caring environments for all. For example, we focus on connecting children in care with nurturing family environments. We work with fostering agencies to recruit and train foster families to best meet the child’s needs and provide ongoing support for the children and their foster families. For women with young children who have experienced violence, we provide safe shelters and trauma-informed care to support them through difficult times. We also provide employment assistance and referrals to preschool services for their children to facilitate mothers’ return to the workforce. Second, we must harness the power of research and data in tackling issues. Ms Ng Ling Ling will be pleased to hear that we have deepened our collaboration with sector practitioners, and local and regional academics. This builds up our body of knowledge and helps us better design and evaluate our policies. MSF partnered the Centre for Research on Successful Ageing at Singapore Management University (SMU) and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) at National University of Singapore (NUS), to understand societal perspectives on essential household needs and how society can support less privileged Singaporeans to meet these needs. This study informed the recent review of ComCare assistance rates, as shared by Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua.”
“To share one such initiative, NCSS, together with the Institute of Mental Health, is bringing together 12 partners to co-locate services at an integrated mental wellness centre called "grovve". "grovve" will be officially launched later this year. We will also transform our services, to meet the changing needs of our families, and to be more responsive to support those with complex needs. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua earlier shared that we are undertaking the Family Services Landscape Review. Representatives from the sector are joining hands with MSF to consider how our social service agencies (SSAs) deliver services and social service professionals can work together to achieve better outcomes for the families we serve. This is a complex issue. We will not rush the process, and we appreciate and recognise the diversity or perspectives and views. We will journey hand-in-hand with all our SSAs and work closely with all of you to strengthen the sector and improve our services. For the more vulnerable among us residing in our social residential homes, we must continue to uplift the quality of care for them. To Mr Baey Yam Keng’s question, I am pleased to share that MSF has introduced the Social Residential Homes Bill. Over the years, MSF has worked closely with our social residential homes to raise standards of care for residents. Under this Bill, we will codify the good progress made by the sector through a new licensing regime, with clear requirements to ensure the safety and wellness of clients. At the same time, the Bill provides for the possibility of homes evolving to meet residents’ needs, where different client profiles could be housed together. MSF and NCSS will also invest in supporting, training and capability building for SSAs operating the homes.”
“The challenges in the years ahead have been discussed extensively in this House. We will face demographic changes, manpower constraints and increasingly complex social issues, amongst other challenges. Rapid technological developments will also have an impact on the needs of our families and certainly on our social services manpower and capabilities. But challenges need not become crises. These challenges present us too with the opportunity to rise to the occasion as a society and as a social service sector and re-imagine the way that we operate and approach issues. It is our opportunity to build our future together. This is MSF’s vision for our future. As a sector, one that is dynamic and forward-looking; and as a society, one that comes together to provide opportunities for all. We envision a social service sector that is dynamic, forward-looking and future-oriented, that is that is agile and responsive to the evolving needs of families. We will achieve this vision by strengthening the sector in two ways. First, we must boldly re-imagine the way we structure and operate our services. At the sector level, National Council of Social Service (NCSS) has transformed itself beyond being a membership body, to deliver stronger outcomes for social service users as a sector developer. We have been engaging the sector and will introduce amendments to the NCSS Act to reflect and strengthen NCSS’ role as a sector developer. The proposed amendments will provide NCSS with the mandate to continue to build the sector’s capabilities, strengthen service delivery and build a stronger ecosystem. For example, NCSS is actively improving social service delivery by strengthening collaboration amongst sector partners and enabling users to find the support they need more easily.”
“The role of the community and the Government is to journey along with them, guiding them to harness their strengths in a meaningful manner. Under ComLink+, for example, a dedicated family coach partners the family, helping them to stay focused on their goals and work towards lasting change. Third, we are proactive in our outreach. We begin early by laying good foundations for the family. Where issues start to arise, we aim to address them upstream to prevent issues from getting worse. Downstream, problems can escalate and are often more complex to resolve. KidSTART is a good example of how we equip families as early as the point of pregnancy. We equip parents with an understanding of maternal health and parenting strategies, so that they are more empowered in bringing up their children well. 12.30 pm But the Government cannot do this alone. To amplify the impact, a whole-of-society approach is necessary. We weave together a network of support by fostering collaboration between different partners. This includes our social service agencies and professionals, academics and corporates. The expertise and strength of this network enhances the support provided to families. The Families for Life @ Community initiative is one such example. It brings together partners such as social service agencies, religious organisations and community groups to foster a family-friendly environment in each town. This allows families to enjoy family-bonding activities and marriage, and parenting courses and programmes close to their home. The principles of family-centricity, strengths-based and proactiveness have laid a strong foundation in recent years and delivered good outcomes for our families, and we will remain guided by these principles. Next, I would like to talk about what lies ahead.”
“Chairman, I thank Members for their views. Singapore's Diamond Jubilee is an occasion to renew our commitment to our social compact. In MSF, we remain dedicated to nurturing and building lives together. Minister of State Sun has spoken on our efforts to build strong families and provide every child a good start; and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua has spoken on our efforts to empower lower-income households and PwDs. Today, I would like to summarise with three key messages. First, how far we have come and the core principles that undergird MSF's work. Second, what lies ahead for us, and our vision for the social service sector and our society. And third, the important role our social service professionals play. Over the recent years, we have made significant strides in nurturing strong families, resilient individuals and a caring society. These efforts have been undergirded by three core principles: family-centricity, strengths-based approach to uplift the family and proactive, upstream engagement and intervention. Let me elaborate. First, our policies are family-centred. Our families are the bedrock of our society. It is within families that our values and character are shaped and where we find joy as well as support in times of trouble. A strong family is, therefore, able to nurture children to fulfil their potential and contribute meaningfully to society. Collectively, we build a strong society. That is why our policies emphasise the role of the family in the life of the individual and are aimed at building strong and resilient families. Second, we adopt a strengths-based perspective in our work with families. Each family possesses unique strengths. Families have the strengths and resilience needed to overcome challenges.”
“The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) funds a suite of Early Intervention (EI) programmes tailored to support children requiring different levels of EI support. Along with the Development Support – Learning Support programme, the Development Support-Plus (DS-Plus) programme supports children requiring low levels of EI support in preschools. EI professionals support the child in his or her preschool up to twice a week, co-teaching the child alongside the preschool teacher. The Government has been increasing spending on EI over the years, including the DS-Plus programme, expanding the number of EI places and lowering fees for EI services. DS-Plus fees are subsidised and, with ECDA's support, sector partners reach out to parents and preschools to offer DS-Plus to eligible children in the preschools they are enrolled in.”
“At present, there are eight Special Student Care Centres (SSCCs). Of students enrolled into SSCCs over the past year, the average waiting time was about eight months. SSCCs may grant priority admission to students who need a placement urgently, such as those without other caregiving arrangements and from lower-income households. Where needed, SSCCs would work with corresponding Special Education (SPED) schools to engage the students and families. SG Enable also provides information to families on alternative options, such as other SSCCs with vacancies, and link them to caregiver support resources. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) works with the Social Service Agencies and SG Enable to identify areas where there is demand for SSCC services. We plan to set up more SSCCs in tandem with the Ministry of Education's plan to build more SPED schools, to provide greater convenience to families with children with special needs who require SSCC services. MSF will continue to engage stakeholders, including parents and caregivers of children with special needs, to gather feedback and improve the accessibility of SSCC services.”
“The Member's suggestion to make the "Children-in-Between" programme mandatory has been previously addressed during the second reading of the Women's Charter (Amendment) Bill on 10 January 2022. [Please refer to "Women's Charter (Amendment) Bill", Official Report, 10 January 2022, Vol 95, Issue 44, Second Reading Bills section.] Our position remains that parents must assume primary responsibility for their children's well-being rather than have the Government mandate a programme for their children. In line with the position that parents must assume primary responsibility, the Mandatory Co-Parenting Programme has been extended to all parents with minor children filing for a divorce since 1 July 2024, to better support parents in making decisions that prioritise their children's well-being.”
“Beyond addressing financial stability and retirement adequacy, the Government has also introduced other measures to support caregivers in fulfilling their caregiving duties. These include enhancing Government-Paid Paternity Leave and introducing the new Shared Parental Leave scheme, to provide stronger caregiving support to working parents of infants. We have also improved access to information on caregiver schemes and services through the SupportGoWhere Care Services Recommender and the Enabling Guide on SG Enable's website. Caregiver-led initiatives, like CaringSG, which is supported by SG Enable; and Enabling Services Hubs also aim to bring peer and community-based support closer to home for these caregivers. Additionally, we recognise that the emotional, mental and physical toll on caregivers is often heavy, and are committed to providing holistic support to help caregivers overcome the day-to-day demands of caregiving. Caregivers who are feeling stressed or experiencing depressive and anxiety symptoms may reach out to the Community Outreach Teams funded by Ministry of Health for mental health support.”
“The Government regularly reviews and enhances support for caregivers of various profiles. This includes initiatives to defray daily costs of living and care services. For example, at Budget 2025, we announced enhancements to the Home Caregiving Grant, to alleviate the caregiving expenses of persons who require assistance with their Activities of Daily Living. Caregivers of seniors and persons with disabilities can look forward to enhanced subsidies for long-term care services in 2026, with more eligible for such subsidies with the raise in maximum qualifying per capita household income to $4,800. Parents with young children also receive a wide range of financial support to defray costs relating to their children's development, such as the Baby Bonus Cash Gift and preschool subsidies. Supporting caregivers to stay working where possible, enables them to continue progressing in meaningful careers, while saving for their retirement and building financial resilience. In this area, we support the employment of caregivers by enabling working caregivers to balance work with caregiving through flexible work arrangements and by providing job placement and skills upgrading support for those who wish to return to work. Caregivers may also be eligible for the Workfare Income Supplement, which supplements eligible lower-wage workers' income and retirement savings. The Majulah Package, introduced in 2024, as well as enhancements to the Silver Support Scheme and Matched Retirement Savings Scheme from January 2025, help to boost the retirement and healthcare adequacy of seniors, some of whom may have caregiving duties. Eligible seniors, including caregivers, can benefit from these support measures which supplement their retirement income and Central Provident Fund savings.”
“Over the last three years, an annual average of 13 cases involving allegations of child abuse made by one spouse against the other, purportedly to limit access to their children in divorce and custody disputes, were investigated. Of these cases, roughly seven were confirmed as true, while about six were subsequently found to be unsubstantiated.”
“The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) launched the Preschool Search Portal (PSP) in 2019 to allow parents to register their interest in a preschool for their child. Based on interest registered on the portal, waiting time for infant care places typically ranged between a few weeks and a few months. ECDA actively monitors the utilisation of places at the national and Planning Area levels to ensure that we can support demand for preschool services. We have increased full-day infant care places by nearly threefold over the last decade to cater to the growing demand. As of end-2024, there were around 16,000 infant care places, out of which around 70% were taken up. In places with newer housing developments, where supply may be tighter, ECDA will work with Anchor Operators (AOPs) to maximise enrolment of infants. For example, AOPs may need to divert manpower to centres in these areas, or additional preschool capacity may need to be injected.”
“After collecting their keys, residents typically take some time to renovate and outfit their new Built-To-Order flats before moving in. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) thus works with Anchor Operators (AOP) to ensure that preschools are ready to enroll children when residents move into the estate after their renovations have been completed. To this end, ECDA facilitates AOPs' early access to technical plans and arranges site visits so that renovation of the preschool can commence as soon as the keys are handed over to the AOPs. Beyond ensuring that the preschool site is ready, ECDA also supports AOPs by providing funding to recruit manpower in advance, before the preschool commences operations so that preschools can receive children promptly, once opened. Preschools today start operations at a smaller scale before ramping up towards operating at full capacity.”
“As such, beyond studying the potential recognition of SgSL, we are considering how other areas that affect the provision of deaf access services can be improved, including the training of SgSL interpreters and documenting SgSL to facilitate such training.”
“The Government is committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities, including deaf and hard-of-hearing persons, have access to information and communications under Enabling Masterplan 2030. In education, students who require signing support in schools use Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) as the language for academic instruction and communication for students. These students attend designated mainstream or Special Education schools where they are supported by trained teachers and educational interpreters who use SgSL. Institutes of Higher Learning and the Arts Institutes have funds to support the learning needs of students who require sign language interpretation services. We provide access to information and communications across digital and non-digital platforms. For television (TV) broadcasts, since April 2020, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) has required TV broadcasts of significant national and public interest, like the National Day Rally and Budget speeches, to be accompanied by SgSL interpretation. We have also increased the proportion of free-to-air TV programmes with interpretation, captioning or subtitling from 47.6% in 2022 to 60.7% in 2024 and aim to achieve 70% by 2030. For digital services, Government agencies are required to meet the Digital Service Standards for designing Government websites which follow international web accessibility standards, including ensuring audio and video content is accessible. The study on the potential recognition of SgSL as Singapore's official sign language is underway. As SgSL is currently already used in practice, it is important to consider how official recognition will bring tangible benefits to the deaf community.”
“There is currently a wide range of after-school care options catering to different needs and preferences of parents and their children. These range from school-based and community-based Student Care Centres (SCCs) to informal arrangements with neighbours and family members in the community. For SCCs which are registered with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) for the purpose of administering the Student Care Fee Assistance scheme, MSF does impose basic requirements, such as meal provision and communicating the menu to parents. SCCs are encouraged, but there is currently no requirement, to adopt the Singapore Standard 692 guidelines.”
“ComCare’s Long Term Assistance provides support to those who are permanently unable to work due to old age, illness or disability, and have limited or no income and family support. For applicants who have clear disabilities, we do not require a doctor’s certification that they are unfit for work. For other cases, we would require certification by a doctor that they have permanent medical conditions that prevent them from working.”
“The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) published a study, “Comparing Long-Term Placement Outcomes of Residential and Family Foster Care: A Meta-Analysis”, in the journal “Trauma, Violence, and Abuse” in 2019. This study is also referenced in MSF’s Domestic Violence Trends Report 2024.”
“From FY2020 to FY2023, the average and median number of cases in each Code of Social Work Practice grouping managed by a Family Service Centre (FSC) social worker is detailed in Table 1.”
“In 2023, the average monthly income of working citizen mothers with non-marital births was $2,500 for those below 35 years and $8,000 for those aged 35 years and above. The median was $1,000 for those below 35 years and $5,400 for those aged 35 years and above. Incomes for those below age 35 years were lower as they also included young mothers who may work in part-time jobs or only for a few months of the year. As explained in the replies to similar questions in November 2022 and March 2024, wage information for the single age band of 35 to 36 years is not separately presented due to small population size. [Please refer to "Annual Median and Average Monthly Income of Single Unwed Parents in Past Four Years", Official Report, 8 November 2022, Vol 95, Issue 74, Written Answers to Questions section; and "Annual Median and Average Monthly Income of Single Unwed Parents", Official Report, 4 March 2024, Vol 95, Issue 129, Written Answers to Questions section.]”
“For example, we developed a Fostering Starter Kit to better prepare parents and other family members to receive the foster child. When it is time for the foster child to part with the family, the transition process is paced and the Foster Care Workers work closely with foster parents to provide counselling and emotional support where necessary. The benefits of being cared for by foster families who provide a secure environment lasts a lifetime for the foster children from difficult backgrounds. We encourage more families to join us as foster parents.”
“The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) seeks to place more children in state care with foster parents as a safe and stable home environment is key to their growth and resilience. We have implemented several measures to encourage more suitable families to foster children. First, we collaborate with media outlets, community organisations, religious groups and corporate partners to raise awareness of fostering and highlight its positive, lasting impact on children from difficult backgrounds. A key initiative is the Annual Fostering Open House, where prospective foster parents hear first-hand testimonials from foster families and children. MSF supports foster parents through our five appointed Fostering Agencies. Foster parents receive training on caring for foster children; receive support and guidance from designated foster care worker; an allowance to help defray out-of-pocket costs; and are eligible for childcare leave to help them balance caregiving responsibilities. In 2022, MSF increased the monthly fostering allowance to $1,100 per child and $1,500 for a child with special needs. Foster children also receive additional subsidies for healthcare, childcare and student care. We have seen an increase in the number of foster families from 595 families in 2021 to 614 families in 2023. Despite these efforts, there are challenges in recruiting more foster parents. Common concerns include having sufficient time and resources to meet the needs of a foster child, potential conflicts that may arise between family members and foster children, and the emotional difficulty when children return to their birth families. MSF is addressing these concerns.”
“The Majlis Ugama Islam Singapore (MUIS) regularly reviews the capacity of our mosques and works closely with national agencies to ensure sufficient prayer spaces are provided for the Muslim community. Masjid Al-Firdaus is on a Temporary Occupation Licence issued by Singapore Land Authority to MUIS, and Masjid Pusara Aman is on land allocated to the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. MUIS will continue to work with the relevant agencies to extend their tenure and operations on site, subject to overall land use plans.”
“The Development Support-Learning Support (DS-LS) Programme supports preschool children aged five and six with mild developmental delays or learning needs. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) piloted the programme to preschool children aged three to four in 2022. ECDA is currently working with a consultancy team from the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital to review the outcomes of the pilot. In evaluating the outcomes of the pilot, ECDA will consider the effectiveness of the support provided and resources required, as well as how the programme may complement existing preschool-based early intervention services.”
“The Government does not track the number of hours that each child spends in preschool. Nevertheless, we note that more parents have been enrolling their children in full-day childcare over half-day programmes to balance their work and family commitments. The Early Childhood Development Agency has introduced initiatives to equip preschools and educators with resources to improve the quality of care and education in preschools, to better support the holistic development of our young children. For example, we have updated the national learning and development frameworks for children from birth to age six, to guide preschools in designing learning environments and experiences that build on children's growing interests. Last year, we also launched the Singapore Preschool Accreditation Framework (SPARK) 2.0, with updated SPARK criteria that focus on quality preschool experiences and children's holistic development. Crucially, the efforts of preschools to support children's development must be complemented by that of parents, who play an important role as their child's first and most influential teacher. While the Government supports working families with access to affordable and quality childcare services, we also encourage parents to spend more quality time with their children. Parents can bond with their children through daily routines like dinner and bedtime as well as activities like play and reading. Employers also have a part to play, by providing a family-friendly work environment that supports their employees in managing work and caregiving responsibilities in a sustainable manner.”
“The number of calls made to the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) has seen a steady increase from around 8,400 in 2021 to 11,600 in 2023. This shows greater awareness of the need to report domestic violence cases, including child abuse. The proportion of child abuse investigations that were initiated arising from reports by the general public increased from 1% in 2020 to around 2% for the period 2021 to 2023, while the proportion from family members increased from 1% to 2% over the same period. The reports from public institutions, such as schools, hospitals, the Police and other community agencies, accounted for around 95% of cases for the period 2021 to 2023 compared to 98% in 2020.”
“For students in our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) who are participating in internships, IHLs provide host organisations with a recommended allowance range and organisations have the autonomy to decide on the allowance provided to the interns. The Ministry of Social and Family Development encourages Social Service Agencies (SSAs) to provide students with an allowance, in addition to a positive learning experience, as part of their effort to grow a potential talent pipeline for the sector. We will continue to work with the IHLs and SSAs to improve the support for students on internships, to strengthen upstream attraction to the sector.”
“The number of Citizen mothers with non-marital births1 in 2023 was 577 for mothers below 35 years old, 27 for those aged 35 years old and 132 for those aged 36 years and older.”
“Parents can refer to the ECDA's Parents' Guide and the SG Enable website to understand more about developmental needs, how to choose appropriate EI services as well as caregiver training and resources.”
“Children with developmental needs are assessed by a paediatrician to determine the level of Early Intervention (EI) support they require. Where needed, children will be referred to suitable programmes either at hospitals, EI centres or preschools, according to the level of EI support required. We strongly encourage parents to enrol their child in the recommended EI programmes, as these are designed to provide the necessary support for both the child and the family. To encourage enrolment, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has made efforts to improve the accessibility and affordability of EI programmes. For example, the Development Support-Learning Support Programme (DS-LS) serves children directly in their preschools, including in all Anchor Operator preschools. DS-LS fees are also subsidised, with parents paying between $5 and $290 for the programme depending on their household income. We have also increased the number of Government-funded Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) and EIPIC-P places by almost 80% from 4,100 in 2020 to 7,300 in 2024 through building six more EIPIC centres and appointing 19 more EIPIC-P centres. This has allowed us to better serve children requiring medium to high levels of EI support. Nevertheless, the decision to enrol a child in EI programmes ultimately rests with the parent. Parents who decline support from EI programmes can explore other avenues to support their child. Similar to Government-funded EI programmes, parents may tap on the Child Development Account to pay for non-Government funded EI programmes that are registered with ECDA. They may also consider attending SG Enable's Step One programme to better equip themselves as caregivers.”
“In the reply on 7 January 2025 to Members of Parliament Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng and Mr Desmond Choo, we updated that the number of early childhood educators has increased from over 18,000 in 2018 to over 25,000 today. [Please refer to "Ensuring Staffing Adequacy with Additional 40,000 Infant Care and Childcare Places Coming Onstream", Official Report, 7 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 148, Oral Answers to Questions section.] We continue to see the workforce growing at a healthy pace and attrition rates have remained stable. We had also updated on our efforts to attract and retain early childhood educators, including raising salaries in Government-supported preschools and introducing initiatives to improve educators' well-being.”
“The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will continue to work with SG Enable, the focal agency for disability and inclusion in Singapore, to actively engage, encourage and support employers to hire persons with disabilities and promote inclusive hiring across industries. We provide a comprehensive suite of support for inclusive hiring. The Enabling Mark, a national-level accreditation framework recognises employers for practices and outcomes in disability inclusion. The Open Door Programme provides job matching and customised employment support and grants to employers for job redesign and training. In addition, employers receive wage offsets through the Enabling Employment Credit for employees with disabilities earning below $4,000 per month. SG Enable also launched the first Enabling Business Hub at Jurong in 2023, to bring training and employment opportunities closer to persons with disabilities. Going forward, SG Enable will be doing more by adopting a more targeted approach in six target sectors that either traditionally hire or have growth potential for job opportunities suitable for persons with disabilities, viz food and beverage services; retail trade; information and communications; health and social services; transport and storage; and financial and insurance services. Initiatives include, identifying inclusive hiring champions and supporting them to share their experiences and best practices in inclusive hiring with fellow industry players who have yet to start their inclusive hiring journey as well as expanding hiring efforts of existing inclusive employers.”
“In June 2024, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) announced that the use of assistance dogs will be extended to persons with physical disabilities and persons who are deaf and hard-of-hearing, beyond the visually impaired. The access for the new categories of assistance dogs supporting persons with physical disabilities and persons who are deaf and hard-of-hearing will be extended to public housing, public transport and licensed food establishments, in a phased approach. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has updated their website to allow these assistance dogs to stay in HDB flats. Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura also uploaded a revised simplified Irsyad on these assistance dogs on their website. MSF is working with agencies, such as the Land Transport Authority and Singapore Food Agency, to implement the necessary changes to allow these assistance dogs onto public transport and into licensed food establishments in time to come.”
“Caregivers of persons with disabilities may experience higher levels of stress compared to the general population. Hence, we provide a range of support to caregivers, ranging from care services for their care recipients, respite care options, caregiver training, peer support and financial assistance. For example, SG Enable has piloted the Take-A-Break programme, offering short-term home-based respite services to families. Additionally, the Enabling Services Hubs (ESHs) work with community partners to reach out to persons with disabilities and their caregivers and deliver community-based activities and programmes. Two more ESHs will be operational in 2025, bringing the total number of ESHs to three. Caregivers can access the Enabling Guide on SG Enable's website as an online resource to determine the schemes and services that best suit them and how they can apply for support. Caregivers may also use the Caregiver Learning Roadmap on the website to gain relevant knowledge, skills and resources to care for themselves and their loved ones. They may also join caregiver support groups for peer and emotional support. Caregivers who need more information on caregiver support services can contact SG Enable's caregiver support team. We will continue to review our policies and services to ensure caregivers receive the support they need. As part of the Enabling Masterplan 2030, we are committed to improving the accessibility, relevance and quality of caregiver support, enhancing their well-being across the caregiving journey.”
“SG Enable undertakes continuing efforts to improve access to lifelong learning opportunities for persons with disabilities to fulfil their aspirations. To ensure that lifelong learning opportunities remain affordable and accessible, the Open Door Programme Training Grant offers employers funding for up to 95% of course fees when they send their employees with disabilities for courses curated by SG Enable's Enabling Academy, the disability learning hub. Enabling Academy collaborates with training providers to continually expand the range of courses tailored for persons with disabilities to support their professional development and personal enrichment. Training providers can tap on SG Enable's Capability Development Grant to purchase assistive technology devices or modify their courses for persons with disabilities. The Enabling Academy also conducts regular complimentary workshops on disability inclusion. These efforts expand and diversify the vocational and lifelong learning courses available for persons with disabilities, to enable them to build essential life skills and enhance their independence. SG Enable launched the first Enabling Services Hub (ESH) in Tampines in 2023, with two more ESHs starting in Jurong West and Punggol in 2025. The ESHs work with community partners to provide disability support and services, including continuing education and learning courses, closer to the homes of persons with disabilities. The courses are bite-sized and cover a range of topics, such as community living skills and digital literacy. Persons with disabilities can also tap on public transport concession fares or the Taxi Subsidy Scheme for taxi transport if they are unable to take public transport, to commute to work or employment-related training.”
“While recognising the role of parents in disciplining their children in the family home setting, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) supports parents by encouraging them to consider non-physical means of discipline as an alternative and foster positive relationships with their children. MSF’s evaluation studies found that the Positive Parenting Programme, also known as Triple P, run by Families for Life@Community (FFLC) agencies has positive effects on parenting and child outcomes in Singapore. Such evidence-backed parenting programmes teach parents effective strategies to manage their children's behaviour without resorting to physical punishment. For example, parents are guided on setting clear boundaries and using positive reinforcement to encourage desirable behaviours. MSF will continue our efforts to encourage parents to adopt non-physical means of discipline through parenting programmes.”
“The overall Tier 2 child abuse incidence rate can be found in the Report. Generally, there is no significant difference for the Tier 2 incidence rates across the years, by types of abuse and age groups, at below one per 1,000 population. The Report also indicates why the Tier 1 incidence rate is not computed. Tier 1 cases could include duplicates of the same person, if a case was closed by the Ministry of Social and Family Development or a community agency and subsequently, re-opened due to new incidences of abuse.”
“Children and young persons are taught in schools or through programmes developed by Social Service Agencies, on how to keep themselves safe. Preschoolers learn about body safety awareness, including recognising safe and unsafe body touches and seeking help from trusted adults when they feel unsafe. From Primary 1, students participate in Character and Citizenship Education lessons which cover different forms of abuse, their right to safety and the importance of respecting boundaries. These lessons also emphasise how students can seek help from trusted adults, such as their parents, teachers and school counsellors, when in need of support.”
“I thank the Member for the question. This matter has already been addressed in Parliamentary Question Nos 59 and 60 on the 7 January 2025 Sitting. [Please refer to "Observed Trends that Led to New Guidelines on Healthy Family Boundaries", Official Report, 7 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 148, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.] I refer the Member to the written reply for further details.”
“For parents interested in learning more about how to parent their children safely, there are multiple avenues for them to receive information and support. The Families for Life portal provides comprehensive, evidence-based parenting resources. Parents can also visit their nearest Families for Life@Community agencies to access information about parenting workshops and family resources. Strengthening Families Programme@Family Service Centre and Family Service Centres offer social and emotional support to families requiring more individualised support. Parents may also approach their child's school for advice and be referred to community services and resources as needed.”
“The breakdown of care and protection orders by specific placement types is not available. Each case is assessed by the Youth Court in terms of what arrangement would be in the best interest of the child.”
“The Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF's) Domestic Violence Trends Report highlights the importance of raising awareness about domestic violence and intervening early to prevent such cases from escalating into more severe situations. First, MSF will continue to equip professionals in preschools, schools, healthcare institutions and social service agencies to identify and report suspected child abuse for early intervention. Second, we will continue to review our laws to enhance protection for survivors. For instance, the Women's Charter was amended in 2023 to strengthen protection for survivors of family violence, including children. Enhancements include the new Stay Away and No Contact Orders to prohibit perpetrators of family violence from being in the vicinity of the survivor and from visiting or communicating with the survivor, respectively. The amendments came into force on 2 January 2025. Third, we will collaborate with our community partners to review and enhance protocols for supporting families with child protection concerns.”