Ministry of Social and Family Development
# Ministry of Social and Family Development

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF; Malay: Kementerian Pembangunan Sosial dan Keluarga; Chinese: 社会及家庭发展部; Tamil: சமுதாய, குடும்ப மேம்பாட்டு அமைச்சு) is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies related to the community infrastructure, programmes and services in Singapore.

## History

MSF was formed on 1 November 2012, after it was announced on 31 July 2012 that the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports would be restructured. Several portfolios, including youth and sports development, charity governance and REACH, the Government's feedback unit, were taken over by two other new Ministries - Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Communications and Information.

## Responsibilities

One of MSF's immediate priorities was to re-examine public policies to help get Singaporeans to marry and have their first child earlier. In addition, MSF would work on strengthening the social safety net to better help those in need, especially those who are at risk.

## Statutory Boards

* Early Childhood Development Agency
* National Council of Social Service
* National Council on Problem Gambling

## Impact

In June 2018, the Save The Children organisation's End of Childhood report ranked Singapore as the best country for children to grow up in. Its ranking methodology is based on eight indicators - under-five mortality rate, child stunting, out-of-school children and youth, child labour, child marriage, adolescent birth rate, child homicide rate and population displaced by conflict.

## Ministers

The Ministry is headed by the Minister for Social and Family Development, who is appointed as part of the Cabinet of Singapore. The incumbent minister is MP for Tampines GRC Masagos Zulkifli from the People's Action Party.

| Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Party | Cabinet |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Chan Chun Sing MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC (born 1969) Interim until 31 August 2013 | 1 November 2012 | 9 April 2015 | PAP | Lee H. III |
| Tan Chuan-Jin MP for Marine Parade GRC (born 1969) | 9 April 2015 | 10 September 2017 | PAP | Lee H. III |
| Tan Chuan-Jin MP for Marine Parade GRC (born 1969) | 9 April 2015 | 10 September 2017 | PAP | Lee H. IV |
| Desmond Lee MP for Jurong GRC (born 1976) | 11 September 2017 | 26 July 2020 | PAP | Lee H. IV |
| Masagos Zulkifli MP for Tampines GRC (born 1963) | 27 July 2020 | Incumbent | PAP | Lee H. V |
