SINGAPORE: The Singapore government is undertaking another review of the Baby Bonus scheme which aims to encourage married couples to have more children and help them defray part of the financial costs.
A survey with some 3,000 beneficiaries is in the works. The move comes at a time when Singapore's fertility rate is at a record low.
Observers have said that more comprehensive provisions should be made, to reverse the declining trend.
Under
the Baby Bonus scheme, parents are given a cash gift of up to S$4,000
each for the first and second child and S$6,000 each for the third and
fourth child.
The government also gives a dollar-for-dollar match
when parents contribute to their child's Children Development Account
(CDA). The savings will be matched up to the cap of S$6,000 each for the
first and second child, S$12,000 each for the third and fourth child
and S$18,000 each for the fifth and subsequent child. Parents can tap on
the scheme when they register for their child's birth at hospitals and
the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
The Baby Bonus
scheme was introduced in 2001 to encourage more Singaporeans to have
babies. However, the country's fertility rate still remains low. The
Community Development Youth and Sports ministry (MCYS) said it will
carry out a survey between April and June this year, targeting parents
who have benefited from the Baby Bonus. The aim is to find out how
satisfied they are with the scheme.
Observers welcomed the move but said processes need to be strengthened further.
Professor
Gavin Jones, Research Leader of the Asia Research Institute at the
National University of Singapore, said: "I also like to see people who
are not married, asked whether such a scheme would a make any difference
to their marriage, child bearing and so on. Not just those who have
already experienced the scheme, but the perceptions among the community
of those who have not yet started having children."
Experts added
that a higher payout may also be needed, but any such adjustments, they
said, will only have a short term impact as costs of living go up.
The
government gave out some S$230 million in baby bonus payments in 2009,
up from S$55 million in 2004. But there was no corresponding increase in
the total fertility rate. And last year, the rate plummeted to 1.16, a
far cry from the replacement rate of 2.1.
Some said it's time to consider bolder measures, such as making childcare free or legislating paternity leave.
"Some
European countries who have had higher birth rates, and also higher
proportion of women in the work force, and they allow paternity leave.
They allow parents to choose [which spouse will get the off day]. Quite a
radical thing that has not been done in Singapore. Recognising the
husband's role in the child rearing care and so on, more time to help
with childcare," said Professor Jones.
Tackling the low birth rate looks set to be a hot issue in the upcoming budget debate.
Mr
Seah Kian Peng, Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for
Community Development, Youth and Sports, said: "I will ask the
government to continue to review and see if there are some things they
should consider. The issue of low TFR (Total Fertility Rate), is a very
serious one, so I think we need to think more out of the box. Try new
things, some may work, some may not work, but I think we should really
venture out of the current schemes that we have talked about.
"In
housing...maybe for those who a second child, we give them a chance to
upgrade, a priority to upgrade to a bigger flat...they may sound a
little bit off, but I hope the spirit is that TFR is a serious issue, we
should look beyond current schemes, to see what else can be done, and
really adopt a whole of a government approach, from accommodation, to
housing to paternity, maternity leave and certainly the baby bonus
scheme."
The baby bonus scheme forms part of the enhanced
marriage and parenthood package which aims to support couples' decision
to get married and have children.
Since the Baby Bonus scheme was introduced, it has been enhanced twice in 2004 and in 2008.
-CNA/ac
the govt will blame us when we refuse to reproduce. They will say they have tried to help us bla bla bla and it's our fault. Then they import chinamen. Haha.
I think countries in the EU take a different approach. Fathers have paternity leave of a few months, mothers have maternity leave for at least one year. Education is free till a certain age etc etc.
Putting up new show again.
Generally, people are taking into consideration the ever constant rising cost of living. They should just cut the crap and get down to remove the problem of ever rising cost of living they are causing people and place profiteering as the least priority on their list.
They are really much ado about nothing, crapping all the way and blaming people for not willing to give birth when they keep creating problems for people. Empty vessels make the most noise.
High cost of living mah so ppl dowan children.
Tuition fee and even milk so expensive.
Our beloved PM wants more "Rabbit babies".
i do not think the scheme could work in the long run...
Election coming, lots of wayang, after that, will take another five years for another round of wayang.
3000 for first child, is it enough ?
It is not pet allowance !
$3000 not even enough for pets ah :)
its only a short term measure before the election
they dont have long term solution to tackle rising cost
Originally posted by laurence82:its only a short term measure before the election
they dont have long term solution to tackle rising cost
The PAP will say this.
The only solution is to import more from overseas since our fertility rate has fallen.
The same reasons why Europe import so many muslims is due to low birthrates too.
Its no secret, foreigners are to do what the locals won't do.