Changing times, changing needs:

1. Changing times, changing needs: A Case Study of Singapore’s population policy

2. Learning Points • Identify why population growth is important to a nation • Identify the reasons why family planning was needed from 1966 – 1981 • Identify the methods that the government used to control population growth from 1966 - 1981

3. Some background information about Singapore’s population in the 1950s and 60s: • Steep increase in population because of post-war ‘baby boom’ • Reasons for baby boom • Recovery of economy • People had confidence in the future and decided to have larger families • People believed that having more children meant security in old age • Population grew from 1.02m to 1.64m from 1950-1960

4. Relation between population and Singapore Population (too small) → lack of human resources → Ageing population Population (too large) → unemployment → shortage of housing → insufficient healthcare services → Insufficient education = AFFECT THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF A NATION

5. 1966 – 1981: Boom in population Government discouraged population growth

6. Family planning needed from 1961 – 1981 • Why was there a need? ‘Baby Boom’ which will hinder the growth and development of the nation • In 1966, Singapore Family Planning & Population Board was set up by the government to control population growth by formulating policies

7. Family planning needed from 1966 – 1981

8. 1980s onwards: Decline in populationGovernment encouraged population growth Yes to motherhood!

9. Learning Points • Identify the reasons why there was a need to promote population growth from the 1980s • Identify the methods that the government used to promote population growth from the 1980s

10. Reasons for decline in birth rate 1. Declining birthrates from the 1980s (2.1 to 1.82 children per woman) because of: • increase in costs of living • people marrying at a later age

11. Why promote population growth from 1980s? • Expansion of industries and the need to develop nation • More jobs were created in industries and a larger workforce is needed to sustain the nation’s development 2. The need to attract multinational companies Small population means: • small labour market (less talented people) • MNCs would find it more expensive to recruit Singaporeans as compared to the huge labour market in countries like China • smaller consumer market

12. Why promote population growth from 1980s? 3. Ageing population • fewer babies born each year • Older people > the babies born each year • more resources needed to take care of INCREASING no. of senior citizens 4. Defence • Fewer recruits for National Service = weak defence force

13. How did the government promote population growth from 1980s? Population Growth Promotion Three or More if You Can Afford It The Graduate Mothers Scheme • Others: • Equalised medical benefits • Grandparent caregiver relief • 5-day work week for the Civil Service • Extended maternity leave Attracting Foreign Talent

14. The Graduate Mothers Scheme • In the 1980s, PM LKY observed that more graduates were marrying later and women were bearing fewer children

15. The Graduate Mothers Scheme Why is then PM LKY worried about this phenomenon? • Based on research, the education level of the parents had a direct impact on the performance of their children in schools (parents who were university graduates were more likely to have children who performed better in schools • ↑ no. of children of female u-grads = more educated generation of workforce

16. The Graduate Mothers Scheme • Low birth rate among the well- • educated would result in: • Weakening of economy • Suffering of • administration • Decline of society

17. The Graduate Mothers Scheme • The scheme was introduced in 1984 to encourage marriages among graduates & to encourage them to have more children (e.g. giving incentives) • Sparked of debate & unhappiness among the people • Less-educated people were unhappy as they were neglected

18. The Graduate Mothers Scheme The complaints of the less-educated • All Singaporean mothers should be treated equally • There are some ministers whose mothers are not graduates but have produced leaders • Why discourage those who want children and can bring them up properly • The less-educated are the ones in greater need of incentives than graduate mothers

19. The Graduate Mothers Scheme The result: • Unable to win the support of the people • Negative public reactions • Scheme was withdrawn after one year of implementation in 1985

20. Eugenics in Singapore The study of methods of improving genetic qualities by selective breeding Mr Lee Kuan Yew recently said at the Human Capital Summit held last month: "You marry a non-graduate, then you are going to worry if your son or daughter is going to make it to the university." (10 nov 08)

21. Cost of a having a baby in Singapore Public Hospitals: • Trips to the gynaecologist = $30 (minimum 5 times throughout the whole pregnancy) • Normal Delivery charges = $3K • Delivery charges for caesarean = $6K • Diapers (2 packs/week) = $13 • Milk (per tin/week) = $30 • Check up for baby (every 6 mths) = $30

22. Cost of a having a baby in Singapore for the first 6 months $4524 for the first 6 months $756 per month (excluding baby clothes, house loan, car loan, daily expenses)

23. Three or More if You Can Afford It • Aimed at bringing Singapore’s population growth back to replacement level of 2.1 children per women • Parents were encouraged to have 3 of more children IF THEY COULD AFFORD IT

24. Three or More if You Can Afford It Why does the government need to take a cautious approach? • Singapore experienced its first recession in 1985 where some MNCs withdrew their investment in Singapore and retrenched workers • If too many babies were born during that period, families might not be able to cope financially and serious social problems might arise What are some social problems that can arise?

25. Three or More if You Can Afford It Benefits to help relieve financial burden of having children: • Allowing medisave to pay for the delivery charges of first three children

26. Three or More if You Can Afford It However people felt that the assistance was not enough as: • The cost of bringing children is becoming too expensive for some Singaporeans because of increased foreign maid levy, school fees, tutor fees • Increasing cost of medical care which means that Medisave acounts could be easily used up • Singaporean becoming more self-centred

27. Three or More if You Can Afford It The result: • Limited success • No. of children born per woman ↑ from 1.48 (1986) to 1.96 (1988) • However the ↑ in 1988 was partly due to it being the year of the dragon where Chinese consider auspicious • After 1988, the no. of children born per woman steadily ↓ (1.24 in 2004)

28. Three or More if You Can Afford It The result (continued): • Despite publicity campaigns, couples continued to have one or two children • Large no. of Singaporeans continued to marry at a later age or remained single • In 2004, Singapore recorded the lowered birthrate with only 35,100 babies born • One of the lowest fertility rates among developed countries

29. Other Pro-family Measures In 2004, PM Lee Hsien Loong announced a package of new marriage and parenthood measures after considering the feedback of the public (high cost of raising children, lack of suitable childcare arrangements): • Equalised medical benefits • Grandparent caregiver relief • 5-day work week for the Civil Service • Extended maternity leave

30. Other Pro-family Measures Equalised medical benefits • Previously only fathers could make medical claims for their children from their employers now both parents are able to do so Grandparent caregiver relief • Income tax relief of $3000 if a grandparent is helping the couple take care of their chil

31. Other Pro-family Measures 5-day work week for the Civil Service • To allow for better work-life balance Extended maternity leave • From 8 weeks to 12 weeks

32. Reactions of Public towards Pro-family Measures • Family-friendly policies created a more committed and productive workforce, thus fostering a caring employer/employee relationship • The amount of work remained the same which meant that people brought work home at night and during weekends

33. Pro-family Measures (Recent Changes) http://www.babybonus.gov.sg/bbss/html/index.html In 2008, the Singapore government is spending an additional S$700 million a year on measures on pro-family measures. Currently, it spends about S$900 million a year • Cash gift of up to $4,000 each for your 1st and 2nd child and $6,000 each for your 3rd and 4th child Paid maternity leave is extended from 12 weeks to 16 weeks • Childcare leave, which can be claimed by either parent, will be extended from two to six days per year .

34. Attracting Foreign Talent Bring in foreign talent to: • Enhance competitiveness of Singapore • Boost quality of manpower • Create more jobs • Increase productivity

36. Attracting Foreign Talent Government attracted foreign talent in 1989 by relaxing immigration policy: • Easier entry into Singapore • Subsidised housing • Attractive education package for children of foreign talent Ultimately, the government hoped that they would develop an attachment to Singapore and take up permanent residence or citizenship

37. Reactions of Singaporeans towards Foreign Talent A comment by a blue-collar Singaporean worker: “Aiyah the government give this, give that to the ang mo. But do the government know that these ang mo will always go back to their own country once they earn our money??” From the source, I infer that Singaporeans are unhappy as the government is giving incentives to foreign talents OR they think that the government’s policies in attracting foreign talents to stay in Singapore is ineffective as foreigners will not develop an attachment to Singapore as it says, “but do the government know that these ang mo will always go back to their own country once they earn our money”.

38. Reactions of Singaporeans towards Foreign Talent A conversations between 2 local university students: “Oh man…Yesterday, I was rejected by ABS company over this Australia guy.” “Ya man, my friend had a similar experience like yours last week. Keep trying, don’t give up” From the source, I infer that Singaporeans are unhappy that companies in Singapore prefer foreign talents over local as it says, “Oh man…Yesterday, I was rejected by ABS company over this Australia guy”.