2025年2月5日，新加坡內政部長尚穆根在國會書面答覆西海岸集選區議員王心妍有關2015年至2024年虐待老人和兒童的案件數量問題。 以下內容為新加坡眼根據國會英文資料翻譯整理：
王心妍（西海岸集選區議員）詢問內政部長：
(a) 2015至2024年間，每年發生多少起虐待老人及外籍家庭傭工虐待兒童的案件？
(b) 對此類虐待案件的處罰是什麼？
(c) 政府正採取哪些措施減少此類案件？
尚穆根（內政部長）：警方未主動統計議員所詢數據，故2015至2021年數據暫不可查。2022至2024年期間，年均約45起涉嫌虐待被照護者的外籍家庭傭工（MDW）報案，其中約30起涉及兒童，10起涉及老人。
虐待老人或兒童的外籍傭工，可依《刑法典》或《兒童與青少年法》定罪，最高刑罰為2年至終身監禁。此外，《刑法典》規定：若受害者因身心障礙、殘障或未滿14歲而無力自保，施暴者將面臨加重刑罰。
人力部（MOM）已採取措施，向外籍家庭傭工宣傳新加坡的法律。通過適應本地生活課程（SIP）和僱主須知課程（ Employers' Orientation Programme ），指導初次來新的外籍傭工和僱主建立相互關係。在"適應本地生活課程（SIP）中，外籍傭工將了解自己的責任以及刑事犯罪（包括與傷害他人有關的犯罪）的法律後果。人力部還通過社交媒體和其他外聯渠道讓外籍傭工及其僱主參與進來，提供各種資源，旨在幫助傭工更好地管理壓力，與僱主進行良好溝通，並在應對不力時尋求幫助。
以下是英文質詢內容：
Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) in each year from 2015 to 2024, how many cases of (i) elder abuse and (ii) child abuse by domestic helpers have taken place; (b) what are the penalties for such abuse cases; and (c) what is being done to reduce such abuse cases.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Police does not actively track the data that the Member asked for, so the data between 2015 and 2021 is not readily available. From 2022 to 2024, there were about 45 reported cases each year involving migrant domestic workers (MDWs) suspected of abusing their charges; of which about 30 cases involved a child and 10 cases involved an elderly person whom they were caring for.
An MDW who abuses an elderly person or a child can be liable for an offence under the Penal Code or the Children and Young Persons Act. The maximum penalties for these offences range from two years' imprisonment to life imprisonment. In addition, the Penal Code provides for enhanced punishments for certain offences committed against victims who are substantially unable to protect themselves from abuse due to mental or physical infirmity, disability or incapacity; and minors below 14 years old.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has measures in place to notify MDWs about Singapore's laws. First-time MDWs and employers are guided on fostering relationships with each other through the Settling-In-Programme (SIP) and the Employers' Orientation Programme respectively. At SIP, MDWs are educated about their responsibilities and the legal consequences for committing criminal offences, including those related to causing hurt to others. MOM also engages MDWs and their employers through social media and other outreach channels to provide resources aimed at helping MDWs better manage stress, communicate well with their employers and seek help if they are not coping well.
