STI: Baby drive sets sights on 3 'prime targets'

Mar 3, 2004

Baby drive sets sights on 3 'prime targets'

by Tee Hun Ching

 

WHERE can more babies come from, wondered the committee studying the baby dearth.

 

After plotting many charts, it found three fronts most likely to yield results - getting singles to tie the knot, persuading childless couples to have a kid, and encouraging those with one child to have another.

 

Combined, the three groups will have the greatest impact on the total birth rate, said Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, yesterday.

 

Those who are single, childless or have only one child make up 42 per cent of resident females aged 35 to 39, and form 35 per cent of those aged 40 to 44.

 

Getting those with two or three children to have another one is not difficult as it is not a big mental jump, he said.

 

But even if they do, they are not likely to yield significant results.

 

This is because there are fewer than 2,000 babies here who are third order and above.

 

Said Mr Lim, who chairs the committee to look at procreation issues: 'These are small numbers. Even if you increase that by 20 per cent, you are talking about another 400 babies.

 

'The biggest impact is really with those with one child, those with no children and those who are not married. If we can make an impact on these three categories, it is where we will get the most babies from.'

 

The share of couples who are childless has doubled from 3 per cent in the mid-1980s, to 6 to 7 per cent.

 

Similarly, the proportion of families with one child has also doubled from 7 to 14 per cent.

 

The Government will look at how to encourage families to have their first child earlier, so chances of bearing a second child easily are higher.

 

Mr Lim noted that the prime fertility years - mid-20s to mid-30s - 'are actually quite a small window'.

 

'If you don't seriously address the decision of whether to start a family or not, you may miss that window,' he said.

 

He recalled stories told by some obstetricians and gynaecologists, who see couples in their early 30s seeking abortion, and those in their late 30s wanting fertility help.

 

'It's very traumatic, very expensive, and very difficult to start a family late when you come round to wanting it,' he said.

 

He also urged singles to consider their future, when they may not have immediate family members to take care of them in their twilight years.

 

But efforts to promote marriage will be carried out 'sensitively', he said, conceding that it was not something that is 'amenable to campaigns'.

 

Initiatives will include helping foster social interaction and more opportunities for people to meet, especially at the workplace.

 

Minister for Community Development and Sports Yaacob Ibrahim said his ministry's studies have shown that most people cited the lack of time and opportunity to socialise.

 

'Interestingly enough, the bulk of those who responded, over 70 per cent, don't mind meeting people at their workplaces,' he said.

 

Mr Lim added that his committee recognises that, at the end of the day, starting a family remains a personal choice.

 

He urged, however: 'Look at the collective consequences of your individual decisions.

 

'While we are caught up with our day-to-day pressure of work, career and so on, sometimes it's worthwhile to sit back and reflect.'

 

Apart from extending maternity leave, the Government is also looking at three other areas to promote parenthood

 

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

 

Now: Pro-family measures in the civil service for female employees include no-pay leave for childcare up to four years for each child below four years old, and part-time employment up to three years.

 

All civil servants also enjoy three days of paid marriage leave, and fully paid unrecorded leave of five days a year to look after a sick child below 12, up to 15 days a year for three or more children.

 

Teleworking and flexi-time work arrangements are also implemented where feasible.

 

Future: The Government will consult employers and employee representatives to study the scope for part-time and other flexible arrangements for parents to spend more time with their children.

 

Different approaches may be taken for different sectors rather than a one-size-fits-all strategy.

 

CHILDCARE, BABY CARE

 

Now: There are 650 childcare centres here that take in children aged below seven, and most admit them from 18 months onwards.

 

There are also 24 infant-care centres, providing 300 places, that look after those aged two to 18 months.

 

Under the new home-based Family Day Care Services scheme, parents can also be matchmade with nannies of their choice at selected childcare centres.

 

Future: Another 3,000 infant-care places will be added in the next five years.

 

The Government will also look into increasing subsidies for such care and explore more home-based, family day-care options.

 

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

 

Now: The baby bonus scheme, introduced in 2001, is among the slew of financial carrots that aim to promote parenthood.

 

It gives a yearly allowance of $500 for the second child and $1,000 for the third until he is six years old. There is also paid maternity leave for the third child.

 

Working parents also get a subsidy for children in childcare centres. Mothers who do not work get half the subsidy.

 

A working mum also gets a special tax rebate for the second child, which can be offset against her or her husband's taxes for nine years.

 

There is a further 15 per cent tax rebate for working mums with their third or a fourth child.

 

Future: The Government is considering whether the baby bonus scheme can be extended to benefit the first child, not just the second or third child.

 

It will also consider how best to simplify and enhance existing tax measures. This could include allowing some measures to be claimed by both husbands and wives, and improving the tax rebates to better match the child-bearing patterns.