DEPENDANTS' PROTECTION INSURANCE SCHEME (Introduction)

Mr Goh Chee Wee asked the Acting Minister for Labour whether the Central Provident Fund Board has finalised the details of the Dependants' Protection Insurance Scheme and when it will introduce the scheme.

The Acting Minister for Labour (Prof. S. Jayakumar): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Dependants' Protection Insurance Scheme was planned at about the same time as other major schemes, such as the Home Protection Insurance Scheme, Approved Residential Property Scheme and Company Welfarism through Employers' CPF Contribution (COWEC).

With the CPF Board's limitation in manpower, it was felt prudent to introduce these schemes gradually over a period of time. The Home Protection Insurance Scheme and the Approved Residential Property Scheme have since been implemented. The COWEC Scheme has just been launched. In the meantime, the CPF Board now has to give attention to the implementation of the Medisave Scheme launched by the Ministry of Health and only thereafter will the Board consider implementing the Dependants' Protection Insurance Scheme.