Delinking Childcare Subsidies from Mother's Employment Status
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms Anthea Ong’s inquiry on delinking childcare subsidy eligibility from a mother’s employment status and the rationale for maintaining this criterion. Minister Desmond Lee explained that while all parents receive basic subsidies, working mothers receive higher amounts to encourage labor market participation. He noted that the Government exercises flexibility for mothers unable to work and that KiFAS kindergarten subsidies are already independent of employment status. Minister Desmond Lee also shared that ECDA is planning to provide enhanced subsidy support for low-income families. Finally, he clarified that the policy specifically targets mothers to support their return to the workforce and ensure childcare during working hours.
Transcript
3 Ms Anthea Ong asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Ministry intends to delink the eligibility criteria of childcare subsidies from the mother's employment status and, if no, what is the rationale keeping employment status as a criterion.
The Minister for Social and Family Development (Mr Desmond Lee): Mr Speaker, all parents, regardless of their working status, are supported with basic subsidies for childcare for their Singapore Citizen children. As working mothers need childcare while they are at work, the Government provides them with higher basic subsidies, as well as means-tested additional subsidies, if eligible. The mother's working status is thus a criterion for higher subsidies.
Notwithstanding this, the Government does exercise flexibility where the mother is unable to work and yet requires childcare services. ECDA is planning to provide better subsidy support, especially for low-income families and will announce details at MSF's Committee of Supply.
Non-working mothers who do not require full-day childcare can enrol their children in half-day kindergartens, which are shorter and often more affordable than full-day childcare programmes. There is, of course, KiFAS, which does not depend on working mother status. Families with children enrolled in kindergartens run by Anchor Operators and MOE may be eligible for means-tested kindergarten subsidies – as I said, KiFAS – which do not depend on the mother’s working status.
So, I urge the Member to wait another day or two.
Mr Speaker: Ms Anthea Ong.
Ms Anthea Ong (Nominated Member): Thank you, Sir. I thank the Minister for the response. Could I just ask, especially given that we are celebrating women this month, is there a reason why we only specify and link this eligibility criterion to the mother's employment, and not the father's?
Mr Desmond Lee: The subsidy was intended to support mothers who go to work. And the way to encourage them to return to the labour market, if they wish; and if they do, then, they can be assured that childcare will be supported.