Ministry of Social and Family Development

Ministry of Social and Family Development
Agency overview
Formed1 November 2012; 12 years ago (2012-11-01)
Preceding agency
JurisdictionGovernment of Singapore
HeadquartersMSF Building, 512 Thomson Road, Singapore 298136
MottoPassion for People
Employees1930 (2019)
Annual budgetIncrease S$3 billion (2019)[1]
Ministers responsible
Agency executives
  • Aubeck Kam,
    Permanent Secretary
  • Lim Wan Yong,
    Second Permanent Secretary
  • Lee Tung Jean,
    Deputy Secretary
  • John Lim,
    Second Deputy Secretary
Child agencies
Websitewww.msf.gov.sg
Agency IDT08GA0010F

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF; Malay: Kementerian Pembangunan Sosial dan Keluarga; Chinese: 社会及家庭发展部; Tamil: சமுதாய, குடும்ப மேம்பாட்டு அமைச்சு) is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies related to the community infrastructure, programmes and services in Singapore.

History

See also: Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports

MSF was formed on 1 November 2012, after it was announced on 31 July 2012 that the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports would be restructured. Several portfolios, including youth and sports development, charity governance and REACH, the Government's feedback unit, were taken over by two other new Ministries - Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Communications and Information.[2]

Responsibilities

One of MSF's immediate priorities was to re-examine public policies to help get Singaporeans to marry and have their first child earlier. In addition, MSF would work on strengthening the social safety net to better help those in need, especially those who are at risk.[3]

Statutory Boards

Impact

In June 2018, the Save The Children organisation's End of Childhood report ranked Singapore as the best country for children to grow up in. Its ranking methodology is based on eight indicators - under-five mortality rate, child stunting, out-of-school children and youth, child labour, child marriage, adolescent birth rate, child homicide rate and population displaced by conflict.[4][5]

Ministers

See also: Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports § Ministers

The Ministry is headed by the Minister for Social and Family Development, who is appointed as part of the Cabinet of Singapore. The incumbent minister is MP for Tampines GRC Masagos Zulkifli from the People's Action Party.

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Took office Left office Party Cabinet
Chan Chun Sing[6]
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC
(born 1969)
Interim until 31 August 2013 		1 November
2012 		9 April
2015 		PAP Lee H. III
Tan Chuan-Jin[7]
MP for Marine Parade GRC
(born 1969) 		9 April
2015 		10 September
2017 		PAP
Lee H. IV
Desmond Lee[8]
MP for Jurong GRC
(born 1976) 		11 September
2017 		26 July
2020 		PAP
Masagos Zulkifli[9]
MP for Tampines GRC
(born 1963) 		27 July
2020 		Incumbent PAP Lee H. V
Wong I

References

  1. ^ "Singapore Budget" (PDF).
  2. ^ "MCYS, MICA to be restructured to form 3 new ministries". Channel NewsAsia. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Ministry of Social and Family Development's immediate priorities". Channel NewsAsia. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  4. ^ "S'pore best country for kids to grow up in". 31 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Singapore is the world's best country for children to grow up in, says NGO report". 4 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Chan Chun Sing becomes full minister in Cabinet promotion, AsiaOne Singapore News". 19 August 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  7. ^ Ong, Justin (28 September 2015). "Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announces Singapore's new Cabinet". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Desmond Lee: Youngest minister in current Cabinet to helm his first ministry". CNA. 5 September 2017. Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  9. ^ Mahmud, Aqil Haziq (25 July 2020). "PM Lee announces new Cabinet; 6 office holders promoted, 3 retirements". CNA. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.