Singapore’s total fertility rate has decreased to an all-time low at 1.16 percent. To increase population, the government proposes to increase the number of foreign workers and residents in the prosperous city state. What are the reactions of bloggers?
The baby incentives [1] or bonuses need to be overhauled, according to Singapore Notes
The Children Development Account (CDA) is good only until your child turns 6 years of age. From year 7, you're on your own. Don't bother with the mathematics – the university fees for a 4 year course alone will wipe out the most generous of the financial incentive packages
My Little Corner explains the contradiction [2] between increasing feritility and the demand to be more productive in the office
There is no way that you can increase productivity and fertility at the same time. They contradict each other.
The key to a healthy family environment is always your family. Does it help that both the husband and wife have to work late hours and sometimes even over weekends, stuck in the drive for the “increased productivity” that is forced upon them?
How will this “increase productivity” affect your child? Will your child even treat you as family since you are perpetually at work and they see others more than you?
Gerald Giam criticizes the “mismanaged” [3] immigration policies of the government
Young Singaporeans cite a variety of reasons for not having more children: Too busy at work, cost of living too high, education system too stressful for children (and their parents), cannot find a place of their own to stay.
Many of these reasons are linked to overcrowding and steeper competition, which are, to a large extent, the result of the mismanaged immigration policies of this government.
Using humor, groundnotes suggests the adoption of breeding [4] techniques in zoos
It’s time we look to the experts. And I don’t mean cheap dating agencies or waste-of-money Singapore Dating Network. I’m talking about the real experts – the zoos!
The best zoos around the world have good animal breeding programmes with high return rates. Exotic and endangered animals are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity but, hey, if they can raise the number of American Condors, there may be hope yet for Singaporeans.
The Lycan Times reminds the government to bring down the cost of living [5] to increase the fertility rate
In short, the best way to raise the fertility rate is to give us real affordable housing and bring down the cost of living. All of this will require some hard work and far reaching policies that will take time to be effective
Kelvin Tan [6] has a similar proposal
As for the middle group of income earners in the workforce, they need drastic reductions in cost of child birth and upbringing. Singapore needs to spend generously on child delivery costs, school costs etc. Parents with kids should be given weekly allowances. In other words, it should become highly attractive to have children. Indeed it will be a costly policy but the returns are higher than what is required to pay for this policy.
My Singapore News writes that the government should consider subsidizing the needs [7] of kids
If the problem is social and financial cost, then the problem needs to be addressed at the national level. If young couples find it prohibitive to raise children, whose fault is it? Many young couples are thinking people and know how costly it is to raise kids in this high cost hot house. How about the govt taking over the role of bringing up kids, only the financing part?
Cloudywind lists the reasons [8] why married couples are not having children
Because more married couples are put off by the idea that they have to queue up over-night for their kids’ place in a kindergarten.
Because more married couples are still saving up for the medical costs to give birth.
Because more married women want to keep their promotions.
Because more married women want to keep their jobs.
Because more married couples are busy working OT to be Cheaper, Better, Faster.
Because more unmarried couples could not find a reasonable flat that is affordable.
Because more singles could not find a Singapore-born Singaporean boyfriend/girlfriend.