37 child care centres located in workplaces across Singapore

Child care centres are available at 37 workplaces across Singapore, with 21 located in government office premises.

In a written reply to questions from MP for Tampines GRC, Irene Ng, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Vivian Balakrishnan, said the 37 centres provide 4,300 childcare places, or about seven per cent of the total child care places in Singapore.

Ms Ng also asked about the availability of infant care centres.

Dr Balakrishnan said the number of child care centres providing infant care has risen from 38 centres in 2004 to 115 child care centres now. They provide more than 1,600 infant care places, and currently 933 babies are enrolled.

Dr Balakrishnan said there is no centre providing only infant care services because operators said it is not viable.

To promote a family-friendly working environment, the government encourages organisations to set up workplace child care centres by providing funding and tax incentives.

For example, for non-commercial and government organisations, the government provides funding for up to 20 per cent of the cost of converting part of the work-premises for childcare use. This is capped at 500 square metres.

Such commercial organisations also receive a grant to help pay the cost of furnishings and equipment for the workplace child care centres. They also receive funding for maintenance of the child care centre after every five years.

For commercial companies, the employer may be able to claim industrial building allowance on the capital expenditure for conversion of space to a child care centre. They are also eligible for the grant for furnishings and equipment.

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