1 week ago
Singapore offers expanded family support to counter record-low birthrate
Singapore is worried that fewer people are having babies.
The government plans to give families almost S$70,000 for each child through the child’s first 17 years.
This includes a S$10,000 gift when a baby is born and other help with school, healthcare and childcare.
Parents will also receive more childcare leave.
The government will pay the full cost of that leave instead of making employers pay part of it.
Families with more children will have better chances in some public-housing ballots.
Leaders hope this makes raising children less expensive and less stressful.
However, surveys show that some adults do not want children, and experts say demanding jobs and limited time also discourage parenthood.
Singapore will provide families with almost S$70,000 per child from birth to age 17.
The package includes a S$10,000 baby gift and support for education, healthcare and childcare.
The government will expand childcare leave and cover its full cost through public funding.
Families with more children will receive better odds in subsidized public-housing allocation ballots.
Singapore’s fertility rate fell to a record-low 0.87 last year, below Japan’s 1.14.
- Who
- Singapore’s government, led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and families in Singapore.
- What
- Singapore announced an expanded financial, childcare and housing-support package intended to encourage people to have children.
- Where
- Singapore.
- When
- Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the measures during Singapore’s annual National Day Rally; the package’s start date was not specified.
- Why
- The measures aim to address Singapore’s prolonged fertility decline and record-low birth rate, as costs, housing pressures and career concerns discourage parenthood.
Government’s support strategy
Skepticism and structural concerns
Can financial support change family decisions?
Government’s support strategy
The government says broader and longer-term support can reduce the financial and practical pressures of raising children and demonstrate that it will stand behind families.
Skepticism and structural concerns
Around 30 percent of surveyed respondents said nothing the government could do would make them more willing to have children, suggesting financial incentives may have limited effect for some people.
Main barriers to parenthood
Government’s support strategy
The package targets several stated concerns through payments, childcare assistance, lower preschool fees and improved housing-ballot chances.
Skepticism and structural concerns
The article identifies high child-rearing costs, housing pressures and potential career effects as broader obstacles; sociology professor Vincent Chua also said demanding modern work leaves people with little time or energy for family life.
Key facts
- Total support
- Almost S$70,000, or about US$55,078, for each child from birth to age 17.
- Baby gift
- A S$10,000 payment at birth.
- Additional assistance
- Grants covering education, healthcare and childcare, plus lower nursery fees.
- Childcare leave
- Leave will be expanded, with the government covering its full cost.
- Housing
- Families applying for subsidized public housing will have better ballot odds, increasing with each additional child.
- Singapore fertility rate
- The rate reached a record-low 0.87 last year.
- Survey findings
- A YouGov survey of 496 Singaporeans aged 18 to 44 found that nearly one in four had no children and did not plan to have any.
Quotes
Lawrence Wong
Singapore’s prime minister, who announced the family-support measures at the National Day Rally
“Today, families everywhere are under growing pressure. We want every family to know: if you choose to have children, the government will stand with you. We will provide more support, and over more years.”
wionews.com
Sources
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