No baby bonus for single unwed mothers: MCYS
By Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 08 March 2007 2103 hrs

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	Special Report • Singapore Budget 2007

SINGAPORE: The baby bonus will not be extended to single unwed mothers as the Marriage and Parenthood Package is an incentive for married couples.

Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, said this in response to a suggestion by Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong in Parliament on Thursday.

The NMP had also called for the third-month maternity benefits to be extended to single unwed mothers so that their children will not be disadvantaged.

Mrs Yu-Foo said single unwed mothers are not a large group in Singapore.

Currently, some 500 children are registered without their fathers' names each year.

And she pointed out that single unwed mothers have access to benefits such as 12 weeks of maternity leave under the Employment Act.

This includes eight weeks paid by their employer for their first and second births.

Single unwed mothers are also eligible for other benefits like the concessionary maid levy and childcare leave.

They can also rent or buy a HDB flat with their parents - or another single - if they are aged 35 and above.

Mrs Yu-Foo added, "Their children are eligible for centre-based child care and infant care subsidies. They pay the same school fees, enjoy Edusave grants and qualify for the same scholarships and bursaries. No Singaporean child will be denied an education due to the circumstances of his birth."

In explaining the government's position of not extending the baby bonus to single unwed mothers, Mrs Yu-Foo said, "The Marriage and Parenthood Package is not a financial assistance scheme for children. The government cannot and should not be the surrogate father."

The government will instead focus on encouraging more Singaporeans to settle down and get married.

The Social Development Unit, a government agency which organises interaction opportunities for singles, is setting up an accreditation council to oversee the entry of more private-sector dating agencies.

SDU is also funding three private initiatives for singles to meet their future partners under the 'Partner Connection Fund'. - CNA/ir