CHILDCARE SUBSIDY (Review)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon asked the Minister for Community Development when the Government will review its childcare subsidy again so as to help the lower-income group, to encourage more women to return to the workforce and to help working parents balance between work and family.

The Minister for Community Development (Mr Abdullah Tarmugi): Mr Speaker, Sir, the provision of child care subsidies is precisely to help women to return to the workforce. The subsidy is given across the board to all Singaporean mothers in the workforce. Special help is given to low-income families who receive additional financial subsidies from the Centre-based Financial Assistance for Child Care Scheme.

The subsidies are reviewed regularly and the last one we carried out was in April 1995. My Ministry is carrying out a study on how to provide more child care places to meet the demand and also to allow mothers more choices. We also want to ensure that child care is affordable to families, especially those with low-income. The subsidies will be reviewed as well. The study should be completed by the middle of this year.

Mr Shriniwas Rai (Nominated Member ): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister what steps is the MCD taking to attract more mothers to join the workforce. I know it is the responsibility of Ministry of Labour.

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Sir, as rightly pointed out by the Member, I think that Question should rightly be directed to the Ministry of Labour.