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. However, the country's fertility rate
still remains low. The Community Development Youth and Sports
ministry (MCYS) 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 the
scheme.
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.
-CNA/ac