http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/432407/1/.html
Work Support Programme may be extended to cover needy Singaporeans with jobs
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 28 May 2009 2016 hrs
Photos 1 of 1
SINGAPORE: More struggling families will soon find help coming their way.
The Community Development, Youth and Sports Ministry is looking into extending its Work Support Programme to cover Singaporeans who may still have jobs but are finding it hard to cope.
Currently, the programme is targeted primarily at low-income family members who have suddenly lost their jobs due to poor health or retrenchment.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan also announced a review of the Maintenance of Parents Act to enhance support for the elderly and aged.
He said: "Most parents will not want to use legislation as the first resort and indeed they shouldn't. But on the other hand, when we see more and more cases, quite egregious cases where the next generation is not fulfilling their end of the bargain... I think that balance is not fair. So we will have to see how we can make it easier at the same time without causing spurious or unnecessary litigation to occur but in order to ensure that children support their parents."
"And sometimes it is often a dispute between siblings. One sibling, usually the lady, a daughter, is bearing a disproportionate burden and the others are not doing their share. We may need to amend some legislation so that we can compel the other members first to declare what they truly are earning and whether they can or cannot support the family, and then to encourage families to arrive at a fair and amenable solution."
- CNA/yt
Work Support Programme may be extended to cover needy Singaporeans with jobs
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 28 May 2009 2016 hrs
Photos 1 of 1
SINGAPORE: More struggling families will soon find help coming their way.
The Community Development, Youth and Sports Ministry is looking into extending its Work Support Programme to cover Singaporeans who may still have jobs but are finding it hard to cope.
Currently, the programme is targeted primarily at low-income family members who have suddenly lost their jobs due to poor health or retrenchment.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan also announced a review of the Maintenance of Parents Act to enhance support for the elderly and aged.
He said: "Most parents will not want to use legislation as the first resort and indeed they shouldn't. But on the other hand, when we see more and more cases, quite egregious cases where the next generation is not fulfilling their end of the bargain... I think that balance is not fair. So we will have to see how we can make it easier at the same time without causing spurious or unnecessary litigation to occur but in order to ensure that children support their parents."
"And sometimes it is often a dispute between siblings. One sibling, usually the lady, a daughter, is bearing a disproportionate burden and the others are not doing their share. We may need to amend some legislation so that we can compel the other members first to declare what they truly are earning and whether they can or cannot support the family, and then to encourage families to arrive at a fair and amenable solution."
- CNA/yt
