Foreign wives face dilemma in S'pore

QX179R SG

SINGAPORE: Some foreign wives on long-term visit passes are finding that life is fraught with uncertainty and anxiety. Putting their Singapore-born children through school, food on the table, a roof over their heads, or even just staying in the country - these are just some of daily battles they face.

Family Service Centres (FSCs) which MediaCorp spoke to are seeing an increase in the number of foreign wives seeking assistance.

According to the FSCs, the husbands of some of the women seeking help have either died or are in jail. Others have been abandoned by their husbands.

While these woman can find employment as work permit holders, many are not equipped with the skills or qualifications to meet the requirements.

There are no official statistics but their increasing numbers are a concern.

Voluntary welfare organisation Yong-En Care Centre has seen 11 such cases this year. There were none last year.

Yong-En Care Centre's executive director Trevor Tan said: "Education (for the children) becomes very challenging because these families are poor. Language is (also) an issue. I've seen some of them ... and when you speak to them in English, they don't understand what you're saying."

Mr Tan added: "The child could be five or six years old. They should be in preschool and they could be learning English to start off with. Otherwise, when they start school, they will be greatly disadvantaged."

Apart from giving the foreign wives who come to the centre for help up to S$60 each month, Yong-En Care Centre offers English classes for them and free tuition for their children.

When contacted, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports said that it does not require FSCs to track the number of such cases. Still, the ministry works closely with agencies to "keep abreast of developing trends and ensure that vulnerable groups receive the necessary assistance".

Social workers told MediaCorp that more men were marrying foreign brides and some do not have the means to support their wives and children. They noted that a greater awareness of assistance at FSCs could also have contributed to the increase in the number of such cases.

'Cases are just tip of the iceberg'

Sociologists Tan Ern Ser and Paulin Straughan point out that the lack of cross-cultural understanding between the woman and her husband and in-laws can severely strain the marriage.

The language and cultural barriers could result the foreign wives feeling isolated and make them totally dependent on their husbands. When the relationship sours, these women have no choice but to turn to formal channels for assistance.

FSCs typically offer emotional support and counselling, sourcing for crisis shelter and alternative accommodation as well as education on legal rights on matters such as immigration, housing, divorce and personal protection orders.

But sourcing for financial assistance is limited as financial aid goes mainly to citizens or Permanent Residents, said Mrs Sara Tan, director at Hougang Sheng Hong FSC.

Nevertheless, these women can seek financial help through their Singapore-citizen children but "often times, the assistance period is not long", said a PPIS Family Service Centre West spokeswoman.

The spokeswoman added: "We believe that what we see at FSCs is just the tip of the iceberg. There may be many more who may not want to seek help from agencies due to various reasons."

For instance, some of them worry that their difficulties could result in their permanent residence application or social visit pass extension being denied, said PPIS.

Others worry that their husbands may be annoyed with them for seeking help. And if their husbands divorce them, they may have to leave the country and be separated from their children, said PPIS.

Social workers believe that allowing these women to work would provide a long-term solution towards financial independence.

Associate Professor Straughan urged that PR be made an option for foreign wives with children.

She said: "When a foreign bride stays in a marriage long enough to have kids, we should also give them the necessary support to grow a stable family."

When contacted, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) reiterated that marriage to a Singapore citizen "does not automatically qualify a foreigner for long-term stay, permanent residence or citizenship in Singapore".

It added: "Foreign spouses of Singaporeans may still submit an application for long-term stay in Singapore for the ICA's consideration even if their Singaporean spouses pass away.

"Each application for immigration facilities is carefully assessed on its own merits and ICA will advise the applicant accordingly."

-- TODAY

Askingyouto SG

PRs should be granted for foreigners who marry locals. The local must be at least a third generation Singaporean.

Itedino SG

The problems lies on the singaporean man divorced or die. Hence, leaving the foreigner wife without any surviving skill. They do not have 0-level. That why they complaints.

To me, i feel they are only 2 ways. Either she go find a job to work or go back to their country to live. If not how, i dun think the government will feed them for free.

Example, Vietnamese do not posses any N-level level min. Dunno how to speak english or speak little. Husband divorce or die. How you expect her to survive in SIngapore. If china national, know chinese still ok as Singapore is a Chinese Society.

Captainjillhawk SG

which slave trader brought them here to populate?!

wait til me and my mates hear about this.

Askingyouto SG

A lot of my friends married China gals. My friends are all true-blue Singaporeans, their wives should be granted PRs immediately. They already have children also.

Maintaining a job is hard enough, at least solve the residency problems for them so that their children can go through gov administrative huddles easily.

People like that will stay, although personally, I hope they migrate to better places.

alize SG

The policy is right. Foreign wives should qualify on their own merits.

If they are educated and qualified, they can get citizenship or PR on their own.

If they are NOT educated and qualified, Singapore still gives you freedom to live with them here.

If the husband dies or abandons them or goes to jail, they are unable to survive on their own, better for them to go back. Otherwise what else can they do without sometimes even language skills? Sell themselves?