Changes in Women's Charter to start in June

• QX179R

  31 May 11, 09:25

  CHANGES made to the Women's Charter, to better protect women and their dependents awarded maintenance orders against defaulters, come into effect on June 1.

  To strengthen the current penalties such as recovering arrears through fines, imposing a third party order and jail term on defaulters, the amendments give the Courts power to order defaulters to set up a banker's guarantee against future defaults, perform community service orders and attend financial counselling.

  The Courts can also direct the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board to disclose the employment information of a defaulter for attachment of earnings orders and provisions will be introduced to streamline court processes and to allow for new rules to be made on the practice and procedure of maintenance proceedings.

  For divorces that happen overseas, the Courts can apply for financial relief, especially if the parties involved move back to Singapore following the divorce or if they have assets here.

  And to safeguard the interests of children, matrimonial assets divided between divorcing parents can be transferred into the Child Development Accounts (CDA), earmarking a sum of money for the children's development.

  But these amendments do not only apply to divorces. To encourage marriages, the changed law will do away with the 15-day compulsory stay in Singapore for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) prior to applying for a marriage licence. But this 15-day residence requirement still applies to couples where at least one party is not a Singapore Citizen or PR.

  -- ST

• goodheart

  4 Jun 11, 00:40

  so men don't need to be protected?

• Fcukpap

  4 Jun 11, 00:59

  they have not learnt from the phenomenon of rising singles...and their fall of popularity...

  it only adds to greater retribution on women's future sons....and added on to the system's retributive fading power ... 

• goodheart

  4 Jun 11, 01:25

  I hope this will make the pap lose more votes in the next election..

• Fcukpap

  4 Jun 11, 22:27

  "Lao Peh ar....they know not what they are doing"

• Disman

  4 Jun 11, 22:31

  one words - sg guys big piece - hot soups

  more singlehood

• Fcukpap

  4 Jun 11, 22:34

  it has been my prediction all along...

• ShyGuyIsNotGay

  5 Jun 11, 14:20

  high 5..lol
• Junyang700

  5 Jun 11, 14:32

  Weird amendments especially when women these days are getting more educated and are more employable in the corporate world nowadays.