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PARLIAMENT
Making access
Social services to to marriage
records easier

go ‘ground up’
Vivian proposes new structure to put VWOs in charge of delivering assistance to those in need
BY SUE–ANN CHIA
SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
DR VIVIAN Balakrishnan wants to
change the structure of social services to
be more ground up, so that the people in
charge “are truly the voluntary welfare or-
ganisations (VWOs) on the ground”.
This will shift the “centre of gravity”
from the National Council of Social Serv-
ice (NCSS) to the VWOs, the Minister for
Community Development, Youth and
Sports said in Parliament yesterday.
To do this, he has asked the NCSS – the
umbrella body of social services which
sets the direction and provides fund-
ing for the sector – to learn from
the labour movement. Its model
is one where unions on the
ground are independent
with members voting for
their leaders. But the
National Trades Union
Congress (NTUC) acts
as a central repository
of resources and man-
power, he said.
The NTUC, Dr
Balakrishnan added,
also has the econo-
mies of scale to
train industri-
al relations
officers
and
post them to individual unions. In adopt-
ing this approach, he gave the assurance
that the NCSS would be there “not to
check on them, not to audit them”. It
would instead serve as “a central enabler,
to achieve economy of scale, give promo-
tional and training opportunities to the
staff of the VWOs, and slowly in that
way, enable us to upgrade the centres”.
He was speaking during the debate on
the President’s Address, which mapped
out the Government’s priorities for its re-
maining legislative term.
Several MPs
who spoke dur-
ing the debate
raised con-
cerns about
government
help schemes,
with some say-
ing that more
can be done
during this
downturn. Oth-
ers wondered
if Singaporeans
were becoming
over-reliant on the
Government – by turn-
ing to it for help in the first
instance rather than as a last
resort.
Ms Denise Phua (Jalan Besar
GRC), a strong advocate for the inter-
ests of the disabled and the needy, cau-
tioned against allowing this to take root.
She quoted the late United States presi-
dent Dwight Eisenhower who said: “A
people that values its privileges above its
principles soon loses both.” But she not-
ed that such an attitude could arise be-
cause the rules of engagement between
Government and people are unclear; or if
the rules are clear, they are not accepted.
But yesterday, Dr Balakrishnan reiter-
ated the principles which underpin Singa-
pore’s social safety net. One is to make
sure that people have enough of a sense of
security so that they will be willing and
able to make the necessary adjustments to
cope with change. Another principle is to
ensure that “no long-term harm comes
about because of a short-term crisis”.
That means focusing, in particular, on
children’s needs and education.
Personal and family responsibility are
also vital, he said, even as he gave the as-
surance that the Government’s “many
helping hands” approach would continue.
He noted that in the area of social work,
there were those who regarded VWOs as
“the outsourced agents” of his ministry.
But this was the wrong model.
“We believe that social services should
be delivered by people on the ground, by
people who know the true needs of the
beneficiaries and by people who really
have the heart and passion for it,” he ex-
plained. Hence his call on the NCSS to
look at changing the approach to one that
is more ground up.
Dr Balakrishnan also detailed areas
which will be given focus during the cur-
rent downturn. This includes families
who can cope during normal times, but
who are finding it tough now – perhaps
due to retrenchment or lesser pay.
Thus, his ministry is studying ways to
extend its Work Support Programme to
such families, at least for the duration of
the downturn. It currently offers finan-
cial assistance to those from low-income
families who have lost their jobs.
“This is to give people the assurance
that no matter how tough times get, there
will be assistance available – not as the
first line, because we still expect people
to go to their families and to use their
own savings first – but as a last resort;
the Government is there and we will pro-
vide for you,” he said.
The ministry is also setting aside $16
million to improve the 36 Family Service
Centres, so they can hire more social
workers and provide them with training
to deal with dysfunctional families.
His ministry is also looking at provid-
ing greater support for the elderly who do
not get financial support from their chil-
dren. And he hinted that the Maintenance
of Parents Act may be revised to better en-
sure that children fulfil their duty to sup-
port their parents.
sueann@sph.com.sg
WITH divorce rates on the rise, the
Government is studying ways to
make marital history records more
readily available.
Currently, people have to pay
$30 to do a search at the Registry of
Marriages for such records, said Dr
Vivian Balakrishnan.
“I’m looking at making that free
if you do it online,” the Minister for
Community Development, Youth
and Sports said. His ministry is also
looking at making public the mainte-
nance payments of divorcees to
their former spouses and children.
This will include defaults in pay-
ment, so that those who want to
marry the divorcees can check how
responsible their partners have
been.
Describing it as a “matrimonial
credit bureau”, Dr Balakrishnan
said: “The next spouse at least will
know what sort of man she’s marry-
ing. She’ll know whether he has dis-
charged his responsibilities and real-
ise that men don’t change their
spots and make an informed deci-
sion before they proceed.”
His ministry is discussing with
the Attorney-General’s Chambers
and the Law Ministry to see how it
can be done. Such a move is also tar-
geted at men who fail to pay mainte-
nance to their former spouses.
Some remarry, divorce and contin-
ue this pattern, with the women
and children being the victims.
“We need to go back to the ba-
sics, which is...whether you want to
break your marriage or not, your
first point is to fulfil your responsi-
bilities to your ex-spouse and espe-
cially to your children,” he said.