1. Survey studies have shown that the
majority of Singaporeans desire marriage and to
have children. Resident marriages have hovered
around
22,000 annually in the past 5 years, while resident live-births are
36,000. However, our nation’s total fertility rate (TFR)
remains relatively low at 1.26 children per
resident female. Faced with the
pressures of a competitive society,
singles are postponing marriage to a later age
and married couples are having fewer children and also having them
later.
2. To support Singaporeans’
aspirations of starting and raising
families, the Government introduced the first Marriage and
Parenthood (M&P)
package in 2000, and enhanced it in 2004. Some of the
enhanced measures in 2004 included the Baby
Bonus, which was extended to the first and
the
fourth child, and the extension of
maternity leave from 8 weeks to 12 weeks. There are
also the Parenthood Tax Rebate, which offers $10,000 for
the second child and $20,000 each for the third and
fourth child; and the infant care subsidy of $400 per
month for infants (first to fourth child) enrolled in infant care
programmes at child care centres.
3. Noting the trends in marriage and
fertility rates, and desirous to explore how families’ can be
further supported, the National Family Council (NFC) would
be organising a focus group discussion to hear your
views on these issues. The NFC is a people sector-led
Council formed on 1 May 2006 to serve as the
bridge between the people and Government in policies and programmes
related to the family. I am the current chairman of the
Council which comprises 16 members from the public.
4. For the proposed focus group discussion, the NFC
would in particular like to gather feedback on
the 2004 marriage and parenthood measures and
how this can be further enhanced
or revised, if necessary. Areas for discussion
could include marriages, work-family and childcare support.
The
session will be chaired by the National Family Council.
any one interest!!!!
