Support for Stay-at-home Mothers Who Are Seeking Divorce and Are Victims of Domestic Violence
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the inquiry by Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim regarding programs available for stay-at-home mothers who are domestic violence victims seeking divorce to upskill and gain financial independence. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that survivors receive safety planning, legal aid, and counseling through Protection Specialist Centres and Family Service Centres. To facilitate workforce re-entry, Workforce Singapore provides the herCareer initiative and Career Conversion Programmes, which have doubled the annual job placements for women to over 26,000. Furthermore, mothers who are upskilling or seeking employment can apply for Special Approval to receive preschool subsidies equivalent to the rates provided for working mothers. These integrated policies focus on ensuring immediate safety while equipping women with the practical assistance and qualifications needed to secure their financial futures.
Transcript
55 Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Social and Family Development what programmes are available to support stay-at-home mothers who are seeking a divorce and who are victims of domestic violence to (i) improve their skills and qualifications (ii) enter the workforce and (iii) gain financial independence.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Ministry of Social and Family Development works closely with the Protection Specialist Centres to support survivors in safety planning to reduce the risk of violence recurring, facilitate alternative safe accommodation, assist survivors through the Personal Protection Order application process, as well as referrals to legal aid where necessary. Beyond addressing immediate safety needs, survivors may also be provided with counselling, psycho-social support and practical assistance, such as financial and employment support. Survivors seeking divorce support and counselling will also be referred to the Strengthening Families Programme@Family Service Centres.
The Workforce Singapore (WSG) offers an initiative called herCareer, which provides employment facilitation programmes and services to support women with varying skills and qualifications to re-enter the workforce. These include physical and virtual career events which are designed to help them secure job opportunities or connect with hiring employers. WSG also offers the Career Conversion Programmes. All of these are applicable and relevant for stay-at-home mothers. Since 2018, the number of women successfully placed in jobs through WSG/Employment and Employability Institute, or e2i, programmes has nearly doubled, increasing from over 13,000 to more than 26,000 women placed annually.
Support is also available to meet their childcare needs, as they move into the workforce. Mothers who are seeking employment and those undergoing training or skills upgrading can apply for Special Approval to receive preschool subsidy support equivalent to what a working mother applicant would receive.