GP DISCUSSIONS.

The Singapore Government is aware and concerned about the falling birth-rate, saying it aims to take a "holistic and coherent approach" that goes beyond financial measures to tackle the population challenges facing Singapore.

The declining birth-rate in Singapore reflects three key trends - increasing singlehood, later marriages and family formation, and desire for smaller families - that are common in developed countries.

Singapore is studying four main areas:

Maternity leave. Working mothers say that the existing eight weeks of paid statutory maternity leave is inadequate for them to recover, care for and bond with their new-born babies. The Government is looking into a longer maternity period, taking into account the costs on employers.
Work-life balance. Countries that have reversed their falling birth-rates have family-friendly practices in the workplace. The Government, in consultation with employers and employee representatives, is examining the scope for part-time and other flexible work arrangements that will allow parents to spend more time with their children. As former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong has said, "I think it is total - money of course, is helpful to many people. It is a total environment for bringing up children. You have to make it easier for parents to bring up children."
Child care and infant care. Access to good and affordable child-care arrangements is important to parents. There is a reasonable subsidy for centre-based child care, but infant care is expensive.
Financial support. Marriage and parenthood are ultimately personal decisions, but financial measures such as grants and tax relief help. The Singapore Government is considering how to simplify and enhance existing tax measures, such as allowing certain measures to be claimed by husbands as well as by wives, and aligning the conditions for tax rebates with child-bearing patterns. Singapore is also introducing more flexibility in the use of the Baby Bonus.

Overcoming the "birth dearth" will take more than speeches and spending money on advertising - it will need new family-friendly policies and more money for families.

SAMANTHA
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Labels: Birth Dearth

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