SOURCE: CNA
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 but still, the country's fertility rate remains low. The Community Development, Youth and Sports Ministry 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 how the scheme is being implemented.
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.
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 but still, the country's fertility rate remains low. The Community Development, Youth and Sports Ministry 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 how the scheme is being implemented.
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.
