Originally posted by Atobe:
It is so typical of this Ruling Party that form the Government, in their way of short changing the Citizens.
Can the intelligent Career Women be fooled simply by increasing the paid maternity leave only, and motivate these women to fulfill the Government's dream of producing not only babies in numbers but intelligent babies too ?
Firstly, the atrocious costs charged for Child Birth, as well as Pre and Post Natal care, has not been addressed.
Secondly, what about the recurring costs in bringing up a Child till they reach the age of TOTAL independence - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or even 26 years old ?
During the [b]SIX Years of Primary School, the costs incurred per month will be:-
School Fees
- ($15 per month x 12 months) $180 per Year
Pocket Allowance
- ($2 per day x 5 days x 4 weeks x 12 months) $480 per Year
Bussing - ($80 per month x 12 months) $960 per Year
Books and Stationaries - $150 per Year
Uniforms and shoes - $150 per Year
Tuition - ($60 per month x 12 months) $720 per Year
$60 per month for tuition is quite low... I think nowadays they charge like $100
ECA Fees - $60 per year
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST AT PRIMARY SCHOOL - $2,700 PER YEAR
Thirdly, what is the Child's Relief available PER CHILD from IRAS, when the Parent has to spend $2,700 PER YEAR ?
Fourth, how about a reduction to the Maid's levy of $480 per month, when the average monthly wage of a Filippina Maid is only $450, and Indonesian or Sri Lankan will be $300 and $280 respectively ?
[/b]
I believe they do have tax breaks on Maid's levy and wages. I like your breakdown of your expenditure for a primary schooling child, but you forgot to add, child's expenses like food, clothing, toys and medical bills!
You can easily add another couple of thousand a year.
Say child's food, breakfast and dinner since lunch is taken in school, thus 2 meals x 5 weekdays + 3 meals x 2 weekends= 16 x $4.5 each meal costing a kids happy meal = $72 per week of meals x 52 weeks in a year = $4032.
Lets put it at $4000.
Now say child's clothing and toys can be put together, say a new set of clothing per month and 1 toy per month= 1 x $20 per set of clothing + 1 x $10 per toy x 12 months = $360
Now factor in doctor bills, kids get sick quite often, so say once every 3 months the child visits the doctor and needs medicine for the common cold and cough. Avg family doctor bill can be $60 inclusive of medicine x 4 times a year= $240
So adding up all the costs and expenses to raise a primary schooling child with sufficient needs= $2700 + $4032 + $360 + $240 = $7332!!!
That works out to be $611 per month!!!