Gov’t looking into parental care leave
In a bid to provide more support to caregivers, the government is considering giving Singaporeans additional annual leave days to take care of their elderly parents
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong told Parliament on Monday the Ministerial Committee on Ageing is looking into ideas such as giving caregivers temporary relief through certain services or providing them with additional leave days so they have more time to look after the elderly and the frail at home, reported The Straits Times.
He was responding to Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade GRC Tin Pei Ling’s question on whether there could be mandatory annual leave for Singaporeans caring for elderly parents.
She noted that care provided by family members remain “one of the most preferred channels of support” for elderly parents.
Other issues that were addressed in Monday’s Parliament seating included the implications of land acquisition for the new expressway.
Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said that residents, whose properties are affected by the land acquisition for the new North-South Expressway, would receive higher advance compensation, reported Channel NewsAsia (CNA).
They are to receive 40 per cent of the statutory compensation upfront so that they have the means to purchase another property before they move out. Residents will also be exempted from the recently implemented 60 per cent Loan-to-Value requirement, if they need to take a loan for the replacement property.
Residents who have transferred physical possession of their properties to the State and collected the full compensation can also stay on in their property, until their replacement property is ready, at subsidised rental rates for two years, he said.
Shanmugam was reported as saying that the government understands residents’ distress caused by the land acquisition and its negative consequences to residents.
He also revealed that several residents have agreed to the valuation of their property while others who believe the valuation should be higher have made their appeal. The Land Acquisition Appeals Board will decide on the amount of compensation they will receive.
Another housing issue raised was that of rental flats, where National Development Minster Khaw Boon Wan said there is flexibility when it comes to deciding who gets rental flats and subsidies
Even though the current income ceiling eligible for rental flats is at $1,500, Singaporeans earning more may also qualify.
The ministry is also considering imposing higher rents for families unprepared to own a home, even though they are not eligible for public rental housing. The underlying aim, he said, is to guide them to home ownership rather than permanent rental, reported CNA.
Khaw noted that adjustments of rental fees are based on the tenant’s income at the time of tenancy renewal. Those with lesser household income will receive higher rental subsidies while those with higher income will see an increase in rent.
Over the last two years, about 1,000 tenants of public rental flats have seen their rents reduced while over 5,000 households were subjected to higher fees. Exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis to take into account factors such as financial hardship and family size.
