I think we need to understand why people are getting married later and later and deciding to have fewer and fewer kids.
In my opinion it has to do with economic / financial reasons mainly.
So to tackle this problem, I propose the following :
1. Main cost of marriage is wedding reception + home. So in order to provide incentive for people to get married, this obstacle must be addressed.
Some ways of attacking this area :
1.A.
Tax break, tax credit, or outright grant and subsidies. The amount must be significant enough to allay a major portion of the cost.
2. Main impediment of child birthing is the situation of dual working parents and the lack of convinient child care.
To solve this problem:
2.A.
More compulsory leave, including generous paternal leave and introduction of flexi working hours.
2. B
Child care must be well developped and spread everywhere. They must be affordable and they must reach everyone and every neighbourhood. To solve a potential problem of labour shortage, it is possible to study an option of introducing NS for females to serve as childcare workers for 2 years.
With these measures there should be a significant and meaningful impact on the social conditions and it is possible to see a marked improvement on the marriage and birth statistics.
the suggestions are re-echoing the same old programmes that didn't work out for the system....
aside to costs, i have mentioned many times....there is a great and urgent need to study and explore solutions at the social psychological levels...u will have to start off from a balanced view of gender policies than overemphasizing on women charter....that is one of the main key roots of the problems....promoting balanced gender policies is a good social motivator and a fundamental change in tune with the times....
Learn from finland from the way they promote the best free education for all:)
u need to eradicate or reduce signifcantly any "unbalanced liabilities" suffered by any gender....
Only one way, lower cost of living !!!
the missing link all this while is a balanced gender policy ...free and liberal does not mean balance.....
its just like solving love with money and ignoring the social and emotional aspects of it...
think about it...
a fundamental change in perception towards balanced gender policies is the foundation...
my views are more in line with the recent AWARE late discovery and DPM Wong's views that the fertility solutions are much more complex in terms of social and emotional dimensions than just cost subsidies...
I am sorry fckpap, but I disagree with your idea that Women Charter is the cause of low marriage and birth rate numbers.
It is not true that gender roles are wonky due to over-emancipation.
I believe the more relevant issue is socio-economic / financial / practical reasons.
For example :
- Calculate the cost of an average wedding reception + home.
- Calculate the annual savings of an average worker.
- Calculate the costs of child birth and also estimate the time and lost earnings / career setbacks.
- Calculate how much is the "baby bonus" from the SG government is currently.
No wonder the "baby bonus" scheme is not working so effectively. It is too insignifcant.
Now, this is not the first time I see you railing against female over-emancipation and over-regulation in gender related laws. I have seen you do that in numerous occasions. I have not seen you elaborate or explain what exactly or what specifically it is that you are against.
Please explain and point to specific examples of how Women Charter is an impediment to marriage and child birth. If you are unable to do so, I recommend that you stop attacking Women Charter or the idea of emancipation in general.
i said its one of the key causes
its not an attack...but seeking balanced gender policies....pls read carefully
Please give some concrete ideas and examples.
I still do not understand what it is that you are talking about.
costs subsidies are just one aspect....we need to look it at the social psychological levels as well...unbalanced gender policies will delay or cause greater fear of commitments
u may also wish to refer to recent AWARE comments on promoting more equal gender policies...as well
Since you are not willing and not able to flesh out what is the "unbalanced gender policies" are, I recommend that you examine again your beliefs. If you are really unable to find some specific examples, please stop believing in it and mentioning it in so many threads.
there are many and exhaustive list social and emotional issues to be discussed here..delayed/ late marriages and fear of commitments are the general headings
How is "delayed or fear of commitments" has anything to do with Women's Charter, or gender laws, or "unbalanced gender policies" that you often mention ?
Since there is no discernable connection, perhaps you should not keep mentioning them in the same breath.
of course...there is connection...i do not think i need to emphasize further...
simply - one will not do anything if it puts one self into risk or greater liability...
perhaps u have not heard of risk assessements?...i do not think i need to explain further...
if there are too many social disadvantages or derive no benefit by tying the knots....why would one wants to get married?
this is asked by both sides of the gender....
bao...i agree half of what u said...costs...i fully agree....
my point here is also other aspects.....the social/ emotional ...that would make a full view of it
simple Every marriage give USD 40,000 incentive, more leave to 100 day maternity.
Free medical. Sure all rush to marry.
we need to look at divorces...
costs up to promote marriages on one aspect will not see a decrease in divorces in another aspect...
u just can't use money to fully resolve social problems
Originally posted by Itedino:simple Every marriage give USD 40,000 incentive, more leave to 100 day maternity.
Free medical. Sure all rush to marry.
can't just give like that......it may cause couples to have children for money and not for children's sake. Free education is something more feasible.
Originally posted by Fcukpap:we need to look at divorces...
costs up to promote marriages on one aspect will not see a decrease in divorces in another aspect...
u just can't use money to fully resolve social problems
Who cares? LKY only want more workers to be born to earn money for PAP.