“Sure, I can pay more CPF for my wife. But what are my two my sons going to eat?”
That quote about sums up the sentiments of husbands of stay-home mothers that Redwire spoke to.
34-year-old Lim Kin Fatt is a salesman who takes home about S$4500 per month because, in his words, he’s “good at his job”.
His wife, also 34-years-old, quit her job as a clerk when their first son was born 5 years ago. The couple had a second boy last year.
Mr Lim was responding to the PAP Women’s Wing’s call for husbands to pay CPF contributions for their wives.
Both are against the move as they feel they will have to cut back on even more of their monthly budget.
Mr Lim said, “Now I contribute 20% to my CPF. That means the money I have to spend every month is already cut by one-fifth. Let’s say I’ve to contribute another 20% for my wife’s CPF, that’ll mean I’ve only slightly more than half of my monthly salary to use to pay all the bills. House loan, car to ferry everyone around including my mother-in-law, children going to start school soon, plus all their meals… How to survive?
Redwire tracked down another 8 husbands of stay-home moms, and all of them echoed that sentiment – it’s going to take a huge toll on their monthly budget.
Mr Jimmy Koh said, “Sure die. We already live day to day. If I’ve to tighten my belt some more, might as well not wear trousers.”
The 8 respondents also said that the government should do its part to support these stay-home moms, instead of passing on the monetary burden to them.
Mr Kenneth Toh said, “Why can’t the government help families to nurture our kids by ourselves, instead of making both parents work to earn a living? We don’t want to rely on a maid to bring up our child, and our parents are already so old it’s not easy for them to get around and take care of children. This issue isn’t new. It’s been a sore issue for some time already. Is it too much to ask that the government helps those who nurture the next generation of Singaporeans to at least have some savings?”
Mr Ng Yik Meng wasn’t so polite.
He said, “F*ck these stupid Women’s Wing and all their bullsh*t. Bloody rubbish only comes from their mouths. Is the government so uncompassionate? It won’t take care of its own Singaporeans? Look everywhere, you’ll see costs are rising. And when you ask people, they’ll tell you that they don’t want to have kids because it’s too expensive.”
On Sat (28 Feb), the PAP Women’s Wing had urged husbands and adult working children to make regular voluntary top-ups to the CPF accounts of stay-home mothers. It also called on the government to provide more impetus for stay-home mothers to take advantage of SkillsFuture initiatives.
It said in a statement, “For stay-home mothers, we are especially concerned that they do not get to benefit from the CPF system. As they do not receive formal payment and CPF contributions for their care-giving, they do not enjoy the attractive interest rates paid on CPF balances and the positive effects of interest compounding,” the PAP Women’s Wing said in a statement.
“A sensible approach is for their husbands to make regular voluntary top-ups to their CPF accounts; likewise for their adult working children. We urge the Government to raise awareness of the benefits of such top-ups and the availability of GIRO transfer options.”
*It’s not easy finding husbands of stay-home mothers in Singapore. Most of the 62 people that we tried to interview said their wives are working, or that they were currently in-between jobs (unemployed, but looking for work). We wish them all the best.
isah
March 3, 2015 at 1:03 pm
What is the problem with the government? The women need to stay home to take care of family. By deducting more Cpf and more women go to work, only gain the government not the family..women of wings or whatever you are called, leave this alone. We need family not more broken families. No amount of education, working society can bring a county to greatness if most families are broken. Singapore is not going to be great when all it can do threaten people to be wary of rtirement,, money and money..there is more to life than retirement. Just because want to be no. 1 doesnt mean have to instill fear. We are becoming so uncivilised…..haizzzz
Truth
February 2, 2016 at 12:02 am
The one in woman wing that said this could be their husband is not treating them well that’s why can think of such thing . This is the backup in case of their broken marriage .
Yanizragw
March 3, 2015 at 1:12 pm
I am current Stay-Home Mum whom juz left my full-time job as an infantcare teacher. Knowing how much I love my job, I finally decided to look after my 3 young children aged 8,6&3 coz all needed me more than anything emotionally affected in which no one knows deep inside to their suffering as me & hubby had to work to struggle to meet ends’. Now more stupid suggestions by government….how abt the children if no one support StayHome Mum?? Why does the husband have to struggle to contribute CPF not the Government?? Pls understand us!!
TheAmswer
March 4, 2015 at 1:04 am
They why have 3 kids if you and your husband can’t afford and have to struggle to make ends meet? It is not that difficult to plan your finance before you decide to have kids, condom is way cheaper you know.
You Don't Need To Ask!
March 4, 2015 at 11:11 am
You have no “F” rights to ask on why she should have 3 kids or 30 kids or even 300 kids!! You loves your generations to be cut short and ending of your family tree line without much offspring?? Its such a shame that your mum took great care of you from the day you were in her belly till the day you were born into this world. Ponder over it dear selfish thinking TheAmswer! You have successfully been brainwashed by the Govt to work hard for them to earn increasing millions while your salary stagnated or maybe a $30-100 increment after every few years in these era where the cost rise every single day! Don’t thin
gexer
March 4, 2015 at 4:42 pm
you are a shame to have such comments on her. seriously look into your head and see if your brain is still there. or maybe…….you works for the gov.
Donald Koh
March 4, 2015 at 7:01 pm
To even suggest that alone amount to stupidity in the highest level. These women talking are assuming the husbands are earning in the same salary bracket as their husbands. Driven to work, served at the table, clothing neatly ironed and readied for the next day and Children ferried to school everyday. Whoa, what a tiring day at work! And come home at the end of the day to suggest, yes, ordinary people should pay their wife’s CPF. That suggestion alone shows Worms crawling out of your BRAIN! Teochew people say : Tart Sai !
Steve Vai
February 1, 2016 at 11:16 am
Am ugly troll just replied.
S M nizar
February 1, 2016 at 12:10 pm
Show your real identity and ask the question, you bloody sissy!
You’re anonymity shows you’re a whore for controversy! Do show your good face at the least….
Fay
February 3, 2016 at 11:51 am
What kind of a stupid response is that? Don’t u think it’s a bit too late to make such comment since she already has 3 kids? Already spilled milk now! Brainless comment!
Joka
February 4, 2016 at 11:04 pm
You guys voted for shitty government, you get shitty results in return. In other words, you guys suffer the consequences. At this rate Singapore is going to be taken over by foreigners.
1)How to survive in Singapore: DON’T GET MARRIED.
John Ng
May 19, 2017 at 9:59 pm
Are you fking retarded?
ric
March 3, 2015 at 4:34 pm
Firstly,yes thanks for fighting for our wife but why the husband fork the amount out of our salaries which the gov do not help to raise in the first place. Ppl earning 4500 cannot sustain the amount what about the rest of the working force? Are the basic salaries of everyone in singapore earning 5000 ? No right! Women wing from PAP, u should be fighting for benefit for the woman from the gov. Remember why we elect a gov so that things can be better for us and not worst for us. Right now, the sensing is already quite bad for the gov, this could or might save the gov should they will to give more benefit to stay home mother. Example 10 percent cpf by the gov to the mother at hm to encourage more family to have more child. I believe cut the gov salaries to pay the stay at home mother would not hurt too much of their wallet since they don’t really pay for anything they need unless they want!
Tahirah
March 3, 2015 at 4:48 pm
What crap is this?
Why not the MPs of the women’s wing contribute cpf to us(stay-home) ? You people earn bucks and we stay home moms earn peanuts!
Serene
March 3, 2015 at 6:19 pm
Now government is not supporting sahm. only working mom gets to enjoy higher childcare subsidies, isn’t this a warning sign y now youngsters not looking after their elderly parents , it is because parents are busy earning money and throw their kids in childcare, parents are not with the kids when they need them most then why should they care for them when they are old. My hubby takes home only $2400 and he has four mouths to feed if needs to contribute cpf how can we survive, should we first pay for children’s school fees or cpf contributions? Pap has convert a lot of their kindergarten to full time childcare center and they dun accept half day child care, full day fees how can we afford? Left private kindergarten but not allowed to use cda to pay for school fees and fees are very expensive and increased yearly how are we going to keep up. Very disappointed! They only hear and think from the view of the riches.
Loh beng chye
March 3, 2015 at 7:18 pm
You all says PAP is reliable and competent so Why complain now.So the next election vote them again.
Dollars & Sense
March 3, 2015 at 8:24 pm
The Govt has biggest market share in housing, supermarket, kindergarten, media, telecoms, utilities, pension fund investment and still want more business for (for the pension fund investment biz). Look whos talking!
Anonymous
March 3, 2015 at 9:39 pm
Wow …did know a salesman can bring Home salary 4500 sg…?? I also wants to join ur company. But I’m a malay woman will ur company employed me and give same salary as urs??
Shawn SK
March 4, 2015 at 12:01 am
What has the Women Wing done for women in Singapore except for parroting what the government wants everyone to do. The benefits of a stay home mom on a child far exceeds any material gain of both parents working. This is a universal fact. Why should I pay the government this money when I can reward this to my wife directly or save it for my child education.
We know what to do with our money so leave us the hell alone. If you cannot find new ways to help the women from the government, then don’t waste our time.
Nothing else better to do than to find news ways to make the bosses happy and collecting more money !!!!!
Lora
March 4, 2015 at 1:06 am
I know the population is huge out there but in Canada,we receive a child tax benefit cheque every month to help parents with the kids.That would be great for all of you.they take funding for that from things like casino’s and such to help with community funding.There has to be a better way.
gexer
March 4, 2015 at 4:45 pm
there are many ways……however the gov are not considering that way. welcome to singapore. 🙂
ida
March 4, 2015 at 7:13 am
While putting up these suggestions, do the women wings ever consider about husbands whose earning were lesser? The very reasons why some wives have to work instead of staying at home? And for stay home mums, does the women wings ever think the reasons for them staying home? Its family… husband is breadwinner for family and now suggesting voluntary top up would make most family in tight budget. Coz in the first place those cpf money cannot be taken out at all. Unless they say that stay home wife can take out those money in cpf yearly then that will be of a different story. This one is contribute and it becomes “virtual” money…
Please reconsider.
anne
March 4, 2015 at 7:55 am
Years & years of Budget…..there is Never any benefit for stay at home mum! In s’pore both husband & wife hv to work inorder to support 3 families (ie, own family, in-law, parent).
Tilah
March 4, 2015 at 9:49 am
Women’s Wing, being highly educated, am surprised you are all not using ypur common sense to talk. Are you paid so high by tge government just to talk rubbish??
The Truth
March 4, 2015 at 10:14 am
Apparently the gahment just wants more money.
Not enough we are giving them 1/5 of our pay, now they want 2/5 of our pay.
Think about it. All the money we give to “CPF” will never come back to us. Only goes to Gahment pocket. Even if we die, the money goes to the next of kin, till they die, goes to the next, next of kin. Never ending cycle.
Anyway for all those who complain regarding this.. Suck Thumb. Govt ask to pay. die die must pay. You say no you think govt listen? They ask you to sit, you sit, ask you to stand, you stand. We’re just dogs… So no point complaining and get ready to review your budget and spending.
In this country, ppl fear the govt not govt care for ppl.
Charlene
March 4, 2015 at 10:54 am
Can’t find stay-at-home mums??? Where were they looking? I can count 10 (and more) of my fellow friends who are stay-at-home mums! They probably didn’t even try.
Liz
March 4, 2015 at 12:05 pm
Exactly! Where were they looking? Smh
Steven Tan
March 4, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Why not the PAP Women’s Wing’s to take the lead and propose to get the Government to implement a “Social Security Program” where the Government will pay for those stay-at-home mums or stay-at-home daddys…said SGD500 / kids. I think this will solved everyone problem and happy.
PAP Women’s Wing’s — Always think about the WIN WIN Situation….get it now????
Clara
September 28, 2015 at 3:58 pm
dude….once you start paying parents to stay home for each kid, you will get a social problem of the less educated who will decide to have 5 kids so they can get S$2500 from just staying at home based on your suggestion of S$500 per kid. Does not mean they are better parent, they find a loophole and exploit it.
gexer
March 4, 2015 at 4:35 pm
I am a father of 1, my wife is a stay at home mom. due to the attention required by my boy and a family belief nurturing our son by ourselves will make him more social courtesy. we are living by the rim everyday and every month. We love kids and we did wanted a second kid however due to financially stable we decided to keep with one. Coz my wife did not get support financially and mentally from the government in singapore. She dont get leaves and no bonuses, she dont get rebates and she dont get maternal leaves. Coz the gov only thinks of ppl whom can give or be tax more are entitled to these benefit? which mostly stay at home mom love kids and they would love to have more if possible but was literally stop by gov policies. the gov are very contradicting group of people who dont seems to think but yet thought they are very smart. want more birth rate, then help the right channel of people.
Is GDP growth more important than social? how can they expect birth rate to go up if they are squeezing you dead dry? should the gov be run like a private enterprise and only looking at driving profit? what about the social part which is long forgotten? Why are our tax money paid to ministers and higher civil servant whom are scholars to set rules to suck my money dry? If they want more woman to go back to the society to work dont you think its will be more encouraging to give them full support to upgrade themselves with our tax money so they will reconsider into our workforce to drive the GDP? rather than want GDP and we have to dig out more money and what do i gain from GDP growth? i seriously seriously question the intellectual of the ministers that we “used” to trust and believe. i use to think that pigs are stupid, now i change my mindset.
please do not think that sgrean are stupid. its time the gov start using the meat in their head.
yoko eng
March 4, 2015 at 4:50 pm
You women really nothing to do?
We have no issue of you going to Europe and spend on bags and all like we normal folks would sometimes call as afternoon high tea.
Y should we make the husbands pay for wife’s cpf? When the money (with due respect) goes to the government?
Security? What kind of security? Hospital bills when we can use our husbands’ medisave? Housing loans? When we can pay off using our husbands’
richard
February 3, 2016 at 1:19 pm
we men have been suffering like a shit still want us to pay home woman cpf wat you talking cpf is a never return money and when you stay in hospital not all expenses will be deducted from it stilll have to top up cash so wat good is that i will rather keep it in the bank or investment company. wat kind of jokes is this
Anonymous
March 4, 2015 at 5:04 pm
It’s unfair for the husbands to pay for the wife’s Cpf.By the wife not working he had to shoulder all financial responsibilities for the family.If he has to fork out money for Cpf ,that will take a chunk off his salary n what if he is a low income worker.Goverment is encouraging us to have more children n by doing this it is not very encouraging to have kids even of it’s just 1.
Killallure
March 4, 2015 at 7:46 pm
Fuck you all pap women bitches. May your kids dump you somewhere in old age. .
Marlene Gwee
March 4, 2015 at 9:08 pm
i am a stay at home mum…with a 5 yr old boy. i think it will work only if the GOV is topping up for my CPF account too…. if my husband top up 17% – GOV top up 20% or more… i don’t mind! if not please mind your own business, i don’t need you to think for us! we know how to manage our own fund.
Star
March 5, 2015 at 2:27 am
I noticed many ridiculously thoughtless comments here. Please think before you speak and expect everyone owe you a living. If you just want to lobby for a small payout as a stay home mother, fair enough. But do consider who is ultimately paying for your payout?
It’s other mothers who are working, along with the other taxpayers! The Govt money is taxpayers money you know. So you are saying that other working mothers should subsidize you for staying at home?
And why not have your husbands’ to contribute? They give you allowances right? What’s the difference? Time to let them grow up and be real men.
This entitlement mentality is getting ridiculous. Not all women are like you.
Anonymous
March 5, 2015 at 7:07 am
Now they even want money from ppl that’s not working to feed them
Sandwiched
March 5, 2015 at 10:26 am
What’s the point of spending so much $$ on campiagns like SG50, giving away useless bundle gifts to SG50 babies when cold hard cash is more beneficial to parents?? Surely the Govt with so many well-paid “talents” can have better ideas to help the general public than some lousy ideas conjured with their heads in the clouds.
As for “attractive interest rates paid on CPF balances and the positive effects of interest compounding,”, it should be up to us whether we would like to park our money in there to invest and earn that interest or not. It’s OUR hard-earned $ afterall. Do u see banks, insurance companies and investment firms forcing you to invest?? Putting it in CPF seems like throwing $ into the deep sea along with the missing M’sian Airline… Cannot be found… Minimum sum and retirement age keeps rising… What’s the use of us being able to leave it to our next generation?? We can’t even use it to find for ourselves & get by! Where did our $ go?? Why keep asking us to top up??
zack
March 5, 2015 at 8:54 pm
The most sensible approach is to get this goondoos out of the Government. Better still vote all this stoopig PAPigs out in the next elections.. we are paying all this stoopig Ministers and they are just useless piece of shit.. waste of Singapore money.. if we can reduce the million dollar salary, it will give us more to spend on Singaporean..
whatever
March 5, 2015 at 11:26 pm
First you said $1000 is enuf to buy a house. now you are saying husband will require to do cpf top up for wives. So is $1000 is enuf to buy a house now?
FuckYouPAP Women
March 6, 2015 at 8:20 am
FUCK YOU PAP WOMEN! THIS IS 1 FUCK UP COUNTRY!!!!!!!!
JX
March 6, 2015 at 11:37 am
Wow can’t believe that they could think of such shitty ideas coming out from their brain.. myself a working father had to support my wife and 2 kids pay for my hdb and car and reno loan every month and I am even paying bills for my mom on her side every month and I am only bringing about $4k a month back hme also and barely make ends meet.. How to have extra to pay for my wife cpf? Don’t talk using ur stupid brains.. step down if ur really can’t think of any ideas..
BOB
June 3, 2015 at 11:26 pm
HAHA! HAHAHAHA!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! HAAAAAAAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!!!! DUMB AHs!!!!!!!
Adeline
August 3, 2015 at 11:21 pm
We stay at home to look after our children so that they can grow up to be a better person. If we have to keep paying to CPF, I don’t think we can survive. Life is like a cycle. Parents raise us up. We grow up and look after them. We raise children up. Our children grow up and look after us. I’m a traditional woman and so my teachings to my kids will be pretty conservative and traditional. PAP shd think of way to encourage healthy family education NOT keep asking people to pay CPF. 🙁
pap
September 25, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Vote for pap lor… Don. Complain… I believe out of 8 who complain at least got 7 vote for pap. U reap what u sowed…gg
Chew Ben
September 25, 2015 at 8:42 pm
If you do not intend to help, at least don’t kill us! You are really off the ground. Do you know why people voted for you this time? Well, if you continue to be ignorant of the helpless in this society, your new immigrant will also leave you alone not to mention us singaporean who have trusted you quietly.
Ariel
September 29, 2015 at 11:39 am
Well… This is what the people voted for… For me, I would hesitate to put any additional money into CPF cos I won’t get to see my money. I would rather give the cash to my mum.
Ron
February 1, 2016 at 1:03 pm
Firstly, we must have a job as without job ( already stolen by foreigners), is disgrace fu going to ask gahment to gave us money?
Keen
February 3, 2016 at 7:59 am
Best joke i’ve heard in my life. “For stay home mum to enjoy e benifits of cpf”…..
CD
February 3, 2016 at 9:50 am
Well, they obviously did not speak to my husband. I have been an SAHM for 2 years and without fail, my husband would top up my CPF every year so that we can both use our CPF and retire comfortably. The government provides various means to help families, and we shouldn’t always just stretch our hands out without trying to help ourselves. Yes, it takes a toll on our finances but this is long-term planning. SAHMs already don’t get “paid”, so it’s the least husbands can do to support the family. It’s all about being prudent and planning properly!
Anonymous
February 3, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Govt encourages more couple to start a family but now comes out with this suggestion to penalize them? Pls tell me how does this benefit when the husband earn just enough to feed the family? This can only be beneficial to those with high income. Having said that, why should the husband wants to contribute to CPF when they can put the money into FD or life savings? At least, the money is within their control rather than LOCKED. I really hope u can stop all these nonsense that Singaporeans are not mature enough to manage their own finance. If u are really so concern for the stay home mums, pls do your part to help them instead. Not by suggesting this to make more people contribute to CPF. U think those families are given a choice due to young kids at home?
Random Citizen
February 3, 2016 at 7:38 pm
This is what you get when the ruling party and ALL other authorised “welfare” organizations belongs to that party… Ownself check ownself…
ilovepap
February 4, 2016 at 3:58 pm
goob job! no money dun give birth! dun fking complain! or we will bring in more FT. Thats wat the pap wanna to let u guys know.
Anonymous
May 20, 2017 at 11:29 am
If U dont contribute, how they gonna pay for the loss of 10b $ losses from gic. Now wonder water erp and others going up, have to cover for the loses.