Forum: Make adoption easier for single and unwed mothers

I refer to the article “

Unwed mum adopts own child, so she won’t carry ‘illegitimate’ stigma

” (Nov 3). I urge the Ministry of Social and Family Development to consider policy reforms that protect children’s welfare, and enhance fairness and support for single and unwed mothers.

First, simplify and expedite the legal adoption process for biological parents, and reduce any associated costs.

Second, remove marriage as a criterion for access to key family and parenthood benefits, including household nucleus recognition for flat applications.

The adoption process can take more than a year, involving legal representation, social assessments and court fees amounting to several thousand dollars. For biological parents already assuming full caregiving responsibilities, such bureaucratic procedures to formalise their parent-child relationship feel unnecessarily stressful, punitive and duplicative. The time and financial resources could be better directed towards the child’s well-being.

For centuries, women have borne the heavier social and economic burdens when children were born outside marriage, but current policies continue to penalise them. Should Singapore’s laws still perpetuate this longstanding inequality?

The current system – which excludes unwed mothers from the Baby Bonus, Working Mother’s Child Relief, and Parenthood Tax Rebate – creates a clear economic disadvantage for children born outside marriage. This is especially difficult for mothers who are already the sole financial and emotional providers for their children. It is time to shift policies from “marriage-based” incentives to “child-centred” support, recognising that every child deserves an equal start in life.

These changes would not undermine the institution of marriage; rather, they would ensure that children’s welfare and mothers’ dignity are prioritised regardless of circumstance. A compassionate system that safeguards every child’s interests ultimately strengthens the social fabric.

I urge the Government to review and update these policies so that unwed mothers no longer face unnecessary administrative or financial penalties for their circumstances. Simplifying adoption for biological parents and equalising family benefits would affirm Singapore’s commitment to justice, equality and care for all children.

Koh Chern Peng