More time needed to assess impact of past efforts to
tackle problem of low fertility rate
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng says more time is needed to
assess the impact of past efforts to encourage marriage and
parenthood in Singapore.
Mr Wong, who's also is the Minister in-charge of the National
Population and Talent Division, was responding to concerns raised
by several members of parliament about the low fertility rate and
what can be done to boost it up.
Speaking the Committee of Supply debate for the Prime Minister's
Office in parliament today, he said the government has invested
sizeable resources to support Singaporeans in having
children.
And it is not time yet to make any further enhancements to Marriage
and Parenthood package first introduced in 2001.
"With the 2008 enhancements, we now have a broad-based package of
support measures, including maternity and childcare leave,increased
baby bonus. We shall allow more time to assess these measures
before considering further adjustments,. NPTD will consider MR
Zaqy's suggestion on how to present the package more intuitively so
that Singaporeans, can understand and appreciate the various
measures that apply to them."
Nominated member of Parliament, MP Viswa Sadasivan had asked if the
cost of HDB flats could have deterred couples from getting
married.
But Mr Wong said the government is committed to making new flats
affordable through generous subsidies.
Mr Wong also elaborated on the reason behind Singapore's low total
fertility rate or TFR, which hit a new low of 1.16 last
year.
One reason is that married women are having fewer children and also
marrying late.
But the other contributing factor that has had the greatest impact
on the TFR was that more people are now remaining
single.
62% of females aged between 25 and 29 were singles, up from 45.5%
in 2000.
While for males in the same age group, 78.5% were singles in 2010,
66.4% in 2000.
Single hood rates for those aged 30-34 also increased
significantly.
Ultimately, he said getting married is still a personal decision
and what can be done is to facilitate the process for singles to
socialise.
"I know from perception surveys that Singaporeans, do want to get
married, and they are just waiting for the partner and so are the
men. Getting married is a very personal decision, and what the
government can do, is to facilitate the process of providing
opportunities for singles to socialise."
Mr Wong said what the government can do is to create an environment
for Singaporeans to have and raise children.
But couples must also continue to bear some
responsibility.
"For now I think we have done enough to encourage shared parental
responsibility through childcare leave. Married couples should
decide between themselves how to share their parenting
responsibilities."
-- 938Live
