COS 2024: Infant care

FY2024 MSF COS — “INFANT CARE” BY MELVIN YONG (RADIN MAS SMC) ON 6 MAR 2024

1. Chairman, I was dismayed to hear that Singapore’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) fell to a historic low of 0.97 in 2023. We must do all we can to alleviate the anxieties and worries that couples face, when considering whether to raise children.

2. The availability of infant care has been a perennial issue for young couples. Can MSF provide an update on the current supply of infant care in Singapore? How does MSF plan to grow affordable, safe, and reliable infant childminding services as a further option for young parents?

3. Infant care services at institutional Anchor and Partner Operators are currently subsidised by the Government. Can MSF consider extending similar subsidies to those providing home-based infant care, to bring the costs to parents comparable to out-of-pocket expense for infant care at Anchor Operators? Can we consider allowing parents to tap on the Child Development Account to further defray cost?

4. Beyond affordability, we need to ensure the quality of home-based infant care. Will MSF be mandating certain requirements for the childminders and operators, such as care ratio, mandatory training, and background checks on childminders? Will there be a requirement for home-based childminders to report incidents involving infants under their care?

5. MOM currently has a Household Services Scheme (HSS) pilot that allows companies to recruit migrant workers to allow basic child-minding for households. This scheme excludes infant care. Will MSF consider extending the HSS to include infant care, to supplement supply?