Singapore likely to see shortfall of babies again

last SG · 2009-12-26T10:32:06+00:00

Strongly agreed. Even presently can see many foreign, especially China teacher in childcare center. Standard drop and worse corporal punishment used in chil...

Stevenson101 SG

what risk??? just buy lah, no money, loan first, sure earn one lah, later cannot afford, sell lor, then HDB your problem, then they allow you to take HDB and you gain from selling yr condo. In Singapore, buy first and talk later, won't die one lah, the most sell lor.

that's assuming the prices is rising enough to keep up with the interest rate.

Not everyone could absorb the losses of a devalued property.

Stevenson101 SG

anyone here has any solution to offer the govt to solve the insufficient birthrate problem?

It's a tough question, i mean it's hardly a secret that rising education levels of women will always lead to a reduced birth rate (not that it's the women's fault but it's a fact)

It can't be just the political system either, Taiwan Hongkong and Japan all have the same problem but granted that opening the floodgates for immigrants only accelerates the problem.

But i think the most straightforward way is to either up the salary cap limit for HDB (so that higher salary couples could afford cheaper flats, increasing their confidence of being able to provide for more than one child) or increase the subsidy for HDB,

cyberr1981 SG

Irony: They said lesser babies are born each year, yet singapore is getting more & more crowded.

FTs not enough to replace meh?? How much crowded is enough?

BadzMaro SG

lol...

Fantagf SG

It's a tough question, i mean it's hardly a secret that rising education levels of women will always lead to a reduced birth rate (not that it's the women's fault but it's a fact)

It can't be just the political system either, Taiwan Hongkong and Japan all have the same problem but granted that opening the floodgates for immigrants only accelerates the problem.

HDB???

It will be good if the govt can provide huge subsidy for study till the child finishes "O" or "A" levels. Provide fund for the lower income families for buying of milk powder and textbooks.

Fantagf SG

Irony: They said lesser babies are born each year, yet singapore is getting more & more crowded.

the govt import so many foreigners.

Sometimes over the weekends when i go out I wonder if I am in Singapore.

I-like-flings(m) SG

tell us for what? our genes no good what... only those elite genes are good... so get them to create more lor....

Fantagf SG

tell us for what? our genes no good what... only those elite genes are good... so get them to create more lor....

yeah, good one. only elites and pap's ministers genes are good. but ironically that lee family produced albino kid leh.

Stevenson101 SG

HDB???

It will be good if the govt can provide huge subsidy for study till the child finishes "O" or "A" levels. Provide fund for the lower income families for buying of milk powder and textbooks.

If i recall correctly O level education is already pretty heavily subsidised, unless you want to study at an independant school like ACS

I'm not too sure about A levels, but polytechnics are around 2k per semester for locals expensive but not impossible to save while your child is growing up.

University level would probably be the biggest killer but not impossible with student loans.

All in all, it seems the biggest expenditure for a newly wedded couple would be their house/flat.

While i don't disagree of providing funds for lower income families i don't think it would up their birth rate much.

Fantagf SG

If i recall correctly O level education is already pretty heavily subsidised, unless you want to study at an independant school like ACS

I'm not too sure about A levels, but polytechnics are around 2k per semester for locals expensive but not impossible to save while your child is growing up.

University level would probably be the biggest killer but not impossible with student loans.

All in all, it seems the biggest expenditure for a newly wedded couple would be their house/flat.

While i don't disagree of providing funds for lower income families i don't think it would up their birth rate much.

I believe susbidy in study does help people to decide on child birth. It would be good if govt can provide subsidy for polytechnic education.

So far feedback from those not willing to give birth or give birth to more babies is costs of living is too high. We cannot control the constant rise in the costs of living only the govt can.

Hitman. SG

wonders bout hot summer weather

starExcaliblur SG

the govt import so many foreigners.

Sometimes over the weekends when i go out I wonder if I am in Singapore.

You don't have to spend $$$ to go overseas to see foreigners and experience them. You get to experience them here in Singapore up close and personal without spending a cent.

Isn't the PAP government nice ?

Fugazzi SG

I do hope Singaporeans can seee thru this bluff and charade put up by the local media and the incumbent party - aiyah, firstly, it is simply to justify the policy of FT and immigration policies that works in their favour and to foreigners.

Secondly, it is build up a base for the eroding support - which they know and now they have sought 'means' to circumvent and indirectly benefit from them.

What is sad is that Singaporeans have been given short shrift to views and grievances that affect their lives.

All in all it shows what politics is all about - prostitution of ... to achieve or perpetuate power.

There is no corrupt politician, one is inherently corrupt - hence the desire to entire politics (all forms) to give it full play!!!

Fugazzi SG

There is no corrupt politician, one is inherently corrupt.

Correction to the above - I meant one is already unconsciously corrupt before one enters .....

I-like-flings(m) SG

yeah, good one. only elites and pap's ministers genes are good. but ironically that lee family produced albino kid leh.

that's the wife's fault lah... u dunno meh.... Lee family will nv have any fault one lah... so they change a wife for LHL lor....

furb SG

sorry.. there is no actual "shortfall"

it is a natural progression when societies become more affluent, they have fewer children..

only thing is that the politicians freak out because fewer people = lower consumption = less taxes and lower GDP

and the inability to sustain the CPF pyramid scheme due to lesser people contributing.

Howlheje SG

The PAP government "import" foreigners to replace the low birth rate of Singaporeans,without changing their wrong dictatorial ruling mindset n attitude.

And so,after a decades or so,due to the fact that those foreigners also experiencing the "side-effect" of such an out-dated n lousy dictatorial management like what we Singaporeans have been through now.The new immigrants will also born less babies or migrate to other countries.

So in the end,the PAP has again become the laughing stock of other country leaders.

ztreyier SG

You get to experience them here in Singapore up close and personal without spending a cent.

PAP rubbish government is throwing taxpayer's money on rubbish programs.

$10m Community Integration Fund to help locals and newcomers understand one another better

http://www.938live.sg/News/Singapore/EDC090916-00002

They really too rich already, can afford to throw 10 million to help aliens.

I don't have much patience with this PAP rubbish regime already I am telling you.

Veggie Bao SG

Hi,

In my humble opinion, the reason why the birth rate is low can be summarized as follows:

1. expensive housing

2. expensive cost of living / women need to work / need double income / need career

3. lack of maternal leave program (women are worried they will be left behind)

These factors consitute more than 90% of the reason, in my estimation.

More accurate analysis can be gotten from focus group interviews and data mining.

However, I am confident the results will be more or less pointing to that same general direction.

Thus, to promote a healthier birth rate, the solution is simple, the society must find answers to remove those factors.

I think such things must be considered:

1. Baby bonus is a failure because it doesnt solve anything. A little bit of money which doesnt cover housing cost, doesnt cover the female's lost income, doesnt cover the need for child-rearing help, doesnt cover the lost career advancement in the female's company, and so on. A total failure by some lazy bureaucrat who cant be bothered to think of deeper solution.

The solution must be targetted and must solve the root fundamental problem.

Thus, I recommend the following.

1. Housing must be made cheaply and abundantly. Regulation must be relaxed or tweaked which encourage young couples to purchase their housing, early and easily.

2. Child-rearing help must be promoted and spread. Nowadays there are many tuition centres, but few day-care. Remember, the women want to get back to work, they dont want to lose too much time. They need quality and affordable childcare centres, and lots of them spread everywhere, accessible.

3. Maternity leave program, and even faternity program in companies must be reviewed again, conduct focus group interviews and restructure it. It must be made attractive, real, and pertinent.

Thus, if these 3 solutions can be implemented with vigor, I am confident the birth rate will rise to a healthier and more sustainable level.

Now, I see there is no general thrust, no political will, no leadership, no bold vision, everyone at the top is lazy. They just say society has changed, nowadays people have new values. But they dont bother to investigate further, what exactly has changed, what factors have changed, and how can they be ameliorated, to create a more condusive environment to promote child rearing.

noahnoah SG

Hi,

In my humble opinion, the reason why the birth rate is low can be summarized as follows:

1. expensive housing

2. expensive cost of living / women need to work / need double income / need career

3. lack of maternal leave program (women are worried they will be left behind)

These factors consitute more than 90% of the reason, in my estimation.

More accurate analysis can be gotten from focus group interviews and data mining.

However, I am confident the results will be more or less pointing to that same general direction.

Thus, to promote a healthier birth rate, the solution is simple, the society must find answers to remove those factors.

I think such things must be considered:

The solution must be targetted and must solve the root fundamental problem.

Thus, I recommend the following.

1. Housing must be made cheaply and abundantly. Regulation must be relaxed or tweaked which encourage young couples to purchase their housing, early and easily.

3. Maternity leave program, and even faternity program in companies must be reviewed again, conduct focus group interviews and restructure it. It must be made attractive, real, and pertinent.

Thus, if these 3 solutions can be implemented with vigor, I am confident the birth rate will rise to a healthier and more sustainable level.

Thank you for ur good suggestion

you shall be nominated as the next MND minster...

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