Take-up Rate and Outcomes of ComLink+ Progress and Employment Packages Since Launch
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the take-up and outcomes of ComLink+ packages, with Ms Mariam Jaafar inquiring about participation rates and preschool attendance metrics among eligible families. Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M reported that as of June 2025, 2,200 children are on the preschool package and 1,600 families are on the employment package. He noted that the Home Ownership and Debt Clearance packages were launched in mid-2025 and are currently under monitoring as families progress with coach support. The Minister explained that families are enrolled when ready based on individual action plans, acknowledging that social mobility requires sustained effort over time. The Ministry continues to oversee implementation and will provide updates following a thorough analysis of the impact of the ComLink+ programme.
Transcript
17 Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Minister for Social and Family Development what outcomes have the Ministry identified after the first full year from the commencement of the ComLink+ Progress Package in August 2024, including (i) the number of ComLink+ families participating in the Package out of all ComLink+ eligible families and (ii) enrolment and attendance outcomes, such as reduction in the number of absentee days per child in participating ComLink+ families.
18 Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Minister for Social and Family Development what has been the take-up rate of the ComLink+ employment package since its launch in December 2024.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The ComLink+ Packages for Preschool and Employment were launched in August and December 2024 respectively. They are, therefore, in the early stages of implementation. As at end-June 2025, around 2,200 preschool-aged children are on the ComLink+ Package for Preschool. Around 1,600 families are on the Package for Employment.
The packages for Home Ownership and Debt Clearance were rolled out in May and June 2025, respectively, and we are monitoring the take-up.
Not all families are ready at this point to take up the packages because they are working on other priorities based on their action plans. Family coaches are monitoring and supporting families' progress and will enrol them onto the relevant packages when the families are ready.
The journey for ComLink+ families towards social mobility will take time and will depend on the combined efforts of family coaches, the families themselves and community partners working together to empower them to achieve their goals. We are overseeing the implementation closely and will make adjustments as needed. We also intend to analyse the impact of the ComLink+ Progress Packages and the ComLink+ programme generally. We will provide an update in due course.