What pro-family measures?
Disclaimer: This is purely from a single income family/SAHM pov.
I had been anticipating what the PM will announce for pro-family measures in his National Day Rally speech. And I can tell you the flagging birth rates won't change much. To pre-empt the people before the speech, it was reported in the paper that SG sent a team to study about pro-family measurements in European country, which lit up my interest. I was even telling hubb, that if the incentives are good, then I will go back to work.
Truth to be said, child bearing is a personal choice. The government can only ra-ra on the side to beckon the people to give birth. For us, we enjoy this stage of parenthood, and we want to have another one (I have forgotten the pain of c-sect). If situation permits, I will want to take care of 2nd one full time too. If I have done it for my 1st and not for the 2nd child, it will be unfair and shortchange for no.2.
- 16 weeks of Maternity Leave- If the ML is around 6mths, then I will consider finding a full time job. I realised that baby caring only starts to settle for a routine after 3mths, so only a few weeks more means that I will enjoy my baby for a short while.
- bigger baby bonus for first time parents- Again, no incentive for those already with kid(s). This maybe will encourage couples with no kids yet to start family planning. What about #2 and so on? The ultimate aim is to grow the population of Singapore and if only one or two child is born per family, the children are simply replacing the parents.
- Again no mention of tax incentives for single income family
- The only scheme I like is the Infant care leave that both the father and mother can enjoy. It makes a difference coz when young babies get sick, they take a longer while to recover and more leave is definitely welcome.
It's not easy to juggle between finance and raising a family. While any help from the Government is welcome, but the measurements announced this year is still not going to meet my needs, and to the people around me.
