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Changing alimony laws will get women back to work: Source Straits Times Date 14 Dec 2012 IT IS perhaps timely to relook the long-standing alimony laws to encourage more women to return to work ("Keep kids in school till 7pm so mums can go to work?"; last Friday). In Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, alimony laws, along with other measures like extensive childcare facilities, serve to keep women in the workforce. Alimony is seldom granted except in certain circumstances where a spouse becomes financially needy upon a divorce. This sends a strong signal to women that they are responsible for their own finances after divorce. As such, most women continue working while having a family. In Singapore, however, the option of alimony is open to every married woman no matter how well off or highly educated she is. This safety net makes it less risky for her to quit her job to meet the needs of her family. Should her marriage fail, she can depend on alimony payment from her former husband to tide her over. Laws enacted to enforce alimony payment further strengthens the idea that staying home poses little financial risk. Alimony laws in Singapore were forged in the 60s when most women were homemakers. The economic situation of women has improved tremendously over the years. Many are now highly educated and pursuing successful careers. The laws need to move with the times. Access to alimony should be restricted to women from the low educational and income levels and when they could be in a dire financial situation upon divorce. This will send a strong message, especially to highly-educated women, that staying home would no longer be a viable option for them. Sulthan Niaz Source: Straits Times

The guy does not want to be trapped in the future to pay more?

I have a friend (girl) that husband had committed adultery and she had decided to leave the man. In their family, Husband, Wife, Son (less then 1 year old) and this incident happens during Christmas. I need some comments and ideas how I help my friend and advice on legal issues for divorce, alimony, maintenance etc. I know them for over 17 years and it was a mistake right from the start. This couple lacks communication, and understanding (accepting) each other and over the time, their relationship from loving~companionship(routine)~commitment (after 1st child is born). Overtime their love had died off and the guy had not been a good husband, good father and a good son in law. Duty as a husband: As this case is an adultery case, wife given him a chance to leave the other woman. She said that "if that you leave this woman, I can forget about everything that had happened". Guess what he said "I cannot break the other woman's heart, I need more time.

Hi, am helping a poor friend to enquire about topic title. She's married to a male chauvanistic habby who's very possessive and controls her every move. She's not allow to leave home alone, not even to buy even a packet of chicken rice at the hawker centre, no joke. She's working and her salary is being controlled by her habby in their joint savings account, she only has a daily allowance of $10, no joke. My fren is a Singapore PR and working as a factory operator, if she is to divorce her habby, can she ask for maintenence and alimony from her habby, e.g. half his assets and monthly maintenance. Her habby threatened her that being a PR, if she divorce, she'll get nothing, how true is that. Another hold her habby have on my fren is that he realised that my fren is beginning to see another guy who really cares for her. Will that have any bearing as well ? If marriage is still far far away, may not even happen. Thanks all to advise and help my poor fren.