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Low—income families to get more childcare subsidies from Jan 1
Channel NewsAsia - 2 hours 43 minutes ago
SINGAPORE: Low—income families who place their children in childcare will be getting more subsidies from next year and the Centre—based Financial Assistance Scheme for Childcare will be extended beyond the fourth child.
From January 1, needy families will get between S$200 and S$340 per month, depending on a family’s monthly income, on top of the universal childcare subsidy that working mothers get.
Moreover, there will not be any differentiation based on birth order as all eligible children in a family will get the same amount.
Speaking to Boon Lay residents on Sunday, Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said: "My key point is that for children, no matter how tough the times may be, we will look after every single one of them. (They) will have a place to go and study... hot meals, not just sandwiches... and adults to help look after them, teach them, give them hope, give them role models for success."
Besides helping lower income families cope with the tough times ahead, Dr Balakrishnan said his ministry is also prepared to help the elderly.
Currently, each of the 84 Citizens Consultative Committees (CCCs) in Singapore receives S$52,000 a year from the S$6.25 million ComCare flexibility fund.
Dr Balakrishnan said he is prepared to give the CCCs more funds if needed. Boon Lay, which has more seniors than the national average, will get at least 20 per cent more.
"I don’t want the constituencies to roll back any of their programmes because they’re worried about cash flows. So long as these programmes are good programmes, the grassroots leaders believe in them and residents are benefiting, we will continue to press on. And if we need more resources, we’ll make those resources available," the minister added.
Speaking to residents at an hour—long dialogue session, Dr Balakrishnan told them the country’s most important social safety net in these tough economic times will still be jobs.
He urged Singaporeans to be flexible when it comes to wages, especially when there are belt—tightening measures all around.
— CNA/so
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