The Ministry of Social and Family development (MSF) regularly conducts audits to ensure there are no irregularities in claims made, and a recent audit revealed that the couple running the Sweetlands childcare centre chain has made unauthorised withdrawals from the Child Development Accounts (CDA) of several children under their care and wrongful claims for childcare subsidies from the Government.
MSF has served notice to revoke the couple’s status as Approved Person, the authorised person of a Baby Bonus Approved Institution (AI) to make deduction from the Child Development Accounts (CDAs) for the payment of fees, Channel NewsAsia reports.
Centres that are approved under the Baby Bonus Scheme can deduct money from these accounts to pay for childcare and other related fees. But the couple will no longer be authorised to make any deductions from CDAs unless they provide satisfactory reasons within 14 days to justify why they should not be revoked of their status.
The ministry added that it has contacted parents whose children are enrolled in Sweetlands centres to explain the situation and assure them that there are no issues in terms of the safetly or well-being of the children.
The matter has been referred to the police. Any person convicted of breaching the Child Development Co-savings Regulations may face of a fine of up to $20,000.
Photo: Pink Sherbet Photography via Flickr
The Ministry of Social and Family development (MSF) regularly conducts audits to ensure there are no irregularities in claims made, and a recent audit revealed that the couple running the Sweetlands childcare centre chain has made unauthorised withdrawals from the Child Development Accounts (CDA) of several children under their care and wrongful claims for childcare subsidies from the Government.
MSF has served notice to revoke the couple’s status as Approved Person, the authorised person of a Baby Bonus Approved Institution (AI) to make deduction from the Child Development Accounts (CDAs) for the payment of fees, Channel NewsAsia reports.
Centres that are approved under the Baby Bonus Scheme can deduct money from these accounts to pay for childcare and other related fees. But the couple will no longer be authorised to make any deductions from CDAs unless they provide satisfactory reasons within 14 days to justify why they should not be revoked of their status.
The ministry added that it has contacted parents whose children are enrolled in Sweetlands centres to explain the situation and assure them that there are no issues in terms of the safetly or well-being of the children.
The matter has been referred to the police. Any person convicted of breaching the Child Development Co-savings Regulations may face of a fine of up to $20,000.
Photo: Pink Sherbet Photography via Flickr