SINGAPORE — The Singapore government says it is not practical to regulate every setting or activity involving children, but existing laws provide a broad safety net to protect minors from abuse and neglect.
Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming made the remarks in Parliament while responding to questions about whether stronger regulations should be introduced following a child abuse case involving young foreign students staying at a private educational facility.
Goh said the government must balance the need for stronger safeguards with the practical difficulties of regulating every new or evolving service involving children.
Laws already cover those responsible for children
Goh said Singapore’s Children and Young Persons Act, together with offences under the Penal Code, provides a broad legal framework against child abuse.
A person who has custody, charge or care of a child can already face criminal consequences for ill-treating the child.
He said this framework serves as an important safeguard, even in situations where a particular business, service or activity is not subject to a dedicated regulatory regime.
Government cannot regulate every activity
Responding to MP Yip Hon Weng’s question about whether a registry and risk-based inspection system could be introduced, Goh said it would not be realistic for the government to create a separate regulatory framework for every setting involving children.
Some sectors, he noted, may still be developing, relatively small or temporary.
Instead, the government generally focuses regulation on sectors that are mature, stable and widely used.
The broader legal framework remains in place to ensure that individuals and organisations responsible for children are still subject to laws protecting minors.
Parents also urged to exercise due diligence
Goh said parents also have an important role in protecting their children.
He urged parents to make reasonable checks when selecting service providers and to continue monitoring their children’s well-being.
This could include considering the background and reputation of organisations or individuals who provide services involving children.
The government, he said, cannot replace the responsibility of parents in making informed decisions about who is entrusted with the care of their children.
Wider background screening under consideration
The government is also considering expanding criminal record screening for people applying for jobs involving sustained contact with children and young persons.
Currently, screening for past offences applies to certain regulated roles involving children.
These include positions such as:
- Full-time mosque staff
- Recognised religious teachers
- Employees in schools
- Workers in licensed preschools
- Coaches registered under national schemes
However, employers in unregulated sectors are currently not generally required to verify the criminal records of prospective employees.
Unregulated sectors could see voluntary screening
Goh said the government is considering whether screening could eventually be expanded to cover more roles.
One possible option would be a voluntary screening system for unregulated sectors, potentially using a certificate-based approach.
However, the government must consider whether such requirements would be practical and whether employers, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, would be able to manage the additional responsibilities.
Goh said child safety would remain a priority as the government works through those issues.
Regulations are only one layer of protection
Officials have stressed that background screening would not completely eliminate the risk of abuse.
Instead, it would serve as an additional layer of protection alongside existing laws, parental vigilance and safeguards implemented by organisations.
The government is continuing to examine how far screening requirements should extend while balancing child protection with other considerations, including the rehabilitation and reintegration of former offenders.
The bottom line
Singapore says it is not practical to regulate every setting or activity involving children, particularly as new and changing services continue to emerge.
Instead, the government is relying on broad legal protections under the Children and Young Persons Act and other criminal laws as a safety net against abuse.
At the same time, authorities are considering whether criminal background screening should be expanded to cover more people working in roles involving sustained contact with children.
The government says the challenge is to strengthen safeguards without creating an impractical regulatory system — while ensuring that the safety and well-being of children remain the priority.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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