Today-May 9
Parliament debated and passed the Family Justice Reform Bill on May 8. The new laws aim to improve the enforcement of maintenance payments and streamline the process of divorce proceedings. There will also be enforcement officers who will determine whether a divorcee can afford to make maintenance payments or is simply refusing to pay. MPs asked if harsher measures will affect low-income divorcees who genuinely cannot pay maintenance. Some also asked if the enforcement officers will get adequate training and resources. Low-income divorcees who genuinely cannot pay maintenance and being punished for it, as well as the kind of training and powers maintenance enforcement officers will have, were raised at a debate on the Family Justice Reform Bill. The Bill was passed after 13 members of the House spoke on various provisions, including finding ways to improve divorce proceedings. Ms Ng Ling Ling, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC), suggested training social service officers and social workers to help vulnerable clients navigate the online application process. Among the changes is the introduction of maintenance enforcement officers, who will assess whether a person cannot afford to pay maintenance to their divorced partner or simply refuses to pay.
If the enforcement officer’s report assesses that the person can afford to pay maintenance but refuses, the court can make more effective orders against the errant persons and take action. Read more at: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/divorcees-maintenance-payment-enforcement-officers-parliament-family-justice-laws-2166591
