Parliament passes updated Women's Charter Bill

Singapore

SINGAPORE is still "not quite ready" to be gender neutral by letting men claim maintenance from women in divorce proceedings, Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said in Parliament on Monday.

But the updated Women's Charter (Amendment) Bill that was tabled and passed allows husbands to do so if they are incapacitated and if "there is a clear need" for spousal maintenance, that is, if they are unable to work and unable to support themselves by other means after the breakdown of the marriage.