Breakdown of Persons under 18 Employed to Support Household Income by Education Type

13 Ms Elysa Chen asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) how many persons under the age of 18 are estimated to be currently employed to support their household income; and (b) of these, how many are (i) in full-time education, (ii) in part-time education, or (iii) not in education or training, respectively.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Only about 0.2% of the resident workforce is aged 15 to 17. Around three-quarters of these were working while schooling, including those on internship or vacation jobs, while the remaining one-quarter were fully engaged in work.

There can be many reasons for them to work, which may also depend on personal and family circumstances. Some may be working to build up skills in their area of interest or to explore opportunities before committing to long-term study. There may also be a subset who work to supplement their families' income. Schools work with community partners to support and encourage students with irregular attendance, including those who forgo their studies for work, to stay engaged in their studies.

The Government also provides financial assistance through ComCare to help lower-income families meet their basic living needs. Vulnerable lower-income families with children below the age of 21 receive additional help through ComLink+, where dedicated family coaches provide customised wraparound support and journey with the family.