BABY NO ENOUGH

(This article was first published at publichouse.sg on 13 August) 

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is right. Singapore needs more babies. As he warned in his speech at the Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru National Day celebration dinner on 11 Aug, Singapore could ‘fold up’ because natural citizens are far from replacing themselves, with the birthrate forChinese and Indians at about equal, 1.08 and 1.09, respectively; and the Malay community faring better at 1.64.

This is in spite of the generous Baby Bonus scheme, tax rebates for parents, extended maternity leave and various inter-ministerial committees – such as the Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy and The Working Committee on Marriage and Procreation - set up specifically to address this issue.

There are more and more singles in Singapore.. Well this is a uphill task for the government. First they must understand that education level has increase, by the time a guy finish his NS and complete his Degrees, then he enter the work force as a junior executive in his mid twenties (average).. Some take more then it takes to find a partner. Save up for a costly wedding and buying a home, takes a longer period then before. By then he already reach his mid thirties, then also at the same time have to climb up the corporate ladder as jobs security are uncertain.. Seeking promotion and pay increase in order to think about having babies..

I do have friends reaching their late thirties and dare not even think of having a baby due to financial and career commitment. Singaporeans have to work extra hard to sustain the high cost of living, not to mention bring up a child. Once a child is born the responsibility falls heavily on both parents till they reach the work force. If the cost of living keeps fluctuating, these childrens will have a harder times when they grow up, comparing with our generation.. So couples will think think think, consider consider consider, save save save till their hair turn grey and start to go bald, by then too old to have baby liao.