An average of about 745 children a year were born out of wedlock to Singaporean mothers here from 2020 to 2024.
In a written parliamentary reply on Oct 15, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said that of this group of children, 12 were subsequently adopted by their biological parents within the same five-year period.
He was replying to Workers’ Party MP Fadli Fawzi (Aljunied GRC), who had asked for this data. He also asked about the Government’s plans, if any, to reduce the stigma surrounding illegitimate children.
Under the Legitimacy Act 1934, a child whose parents are not legally married to each other when the child is born is considered illegitimate. This remains so unless the parents subsequently marry or adopt the child.
Mr Masagos said the Government does not differentiate benefits that support Singaporean children’s growth and development based on their parents’ marital status.
These benefits include subsidies for education, healthcare, childcare and infant care, and the migrant domestic helper levy concession.
Single unwed parents do not need to adopt their own children to qualify for these government benefits, he said.
Mr Masagos said: “Every child, regardless of their parents’ marital status, deserves to be valued, supported and given equal opportunities to thrive.”
“The Government recognises that children of single unwed parents may face stigma and is committed to fostering an inclusive and caring society.”
In a 2021 reply in Parliament, then Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling said the number of children born to single unwed mothers had averaged around 830 a year in the last five years, with the numbers falling since 2013.
She also said there were more than 1,000 single unwed mothers each year from 2006 to 2012, but that the number has dipped to below 1,000 since 2013. The figures were estimated from the number of Singaporean babies born out of wedlock each year.
Lawyer June Lim, managing director of Eden Law Corporation, said some women adopt their own children born out of wedlock to prevent their former boyfriends, or the children’s biological fathers, from seeking custody or access to the children in the future.
She said: “Some single mothers take the view that if their ex-boyfriends chose not to take responsibility for the child with them during pregnancy, they should not have the right to be involved with the child after his or her birth.”
Another reason why the parent may adopt the child is for inheritance purposes.
Under the Intestate Succession Act, an illegitimate child will not be able to inherit from their father or mother’s estate, as the Act defines a child as a legitimate or adopted child, she said.
Theresa Tan for The Straits Times
About 745 children born out of wedlock to Singaporean mothers each year from 2020-24
