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Current Social Challenges

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Current Social Challenges

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  1. IH Essay Practice:Which do you think plays a more important role in sustaining Singapore’s population growth?Explain your answer. Policies to encourage birthrate attracting foreign talents‘Ensuring economic competitiveness was the main reason why the government promoted population growth in Singapore from the 1980s.’ How far do you agree with this statement? EYA.

  2. Some Essay Questions: How far do you agree that the family planning policies played an important role in curbing the population boom of the 1970s? EYA. How far do you agree that Singapore’s population policies have been beneficial for the country from the 1960s to 1980s? EYA. How far do you agree that the most harmful effect of Singapore’s slow population growth from the 1970s was its impact on the labour force? EYA.

  3. Current Social Challenges Declining birthrate from the 1980s Consequences - economic, defence, aging population Promoting Population Growth Preparing for Aged Population

  4. Number of babies born from 1960 to 2004 Declining birth rate from the 1980s • 1980 fertility rate was1.82 • Success of family planning policies • Increasing cost of living • Marrying at a later age

  5. Consequences • Economic  Unattractive to MNCs • Would not be able to produce enough talented people to sustain development • Less attractive • MNCs would find it difficult/ > expensive to recruit Singaporeans • Smaller consumer market

  6. Consequences • Defence • Fewer men to recruit for NS • Weaker defence force???

  7. Previously…. Consequences • Ageing Population • Fewer young people in the population • Number of older people in be larger proportionately • More resources would have to be used to care for the aged population

  8. Promoting Population Growth after 1980s1) Promoting Larger Families 2) Attracting Foreign Talents

  9. The Graduate Mother’s Scheme, 1984 • Graduates encouraged to get married • Graduates encouraged to have more children But….. Scheme withdrawn in 1985 WHY?

  10. Three or More If You Can Afford It, 1987 • Aimed to bring population growth back to replacement level • Use of Medisave for delivery charges of 1st three children • Publicity campaigns on the joys of parenthood

  11. New marriage and parenthood packages, 2004 (based on feedback) • Equalized medical benefits • Mothers too! • Better work-life balance • 5-day work week for Civil Service • $10mil WoW! Fund (Work-life Works!) provided financial support for companies to implement family friendly practices Purpose?

  12. Encouraging Parenthood, 2004 • Promoting Marriage • HDB Top-up Grant for singles who marry • Making child birth more affordable • Use of Medisave for 4th & more births & pre-delivery expenses • Use of Medisave for assisted conception procedures • Providing financial support for raising children • Enhanced Baby Bonus • Citizens enjoy a bonus of $3,000 for 1st child, up to $9,000 for 2nd child & up to $18,000 for 3rd or more • Parenthood Tax Rebate & Working Mothers’ Child Relief Purpose?

  13. Enhancing child care options • Extended maternity leave • 8 weeks  12 weeks • New Child Care Leave • <7 years old, 2 days of unconditional child care leave • Infant care subsidy • 2-18 month old, licensed infant/ child care centers  up to $400/mth • Grandparent caregiver relief • Income tax relief of $3,000 if they are helping the couple to look after the child (up to 12 years old) • Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Concessions • Lower levy of $200 if child below 12 years old (Singaporeans only) • Also if parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandparent-in-law living in the same household Purpose?

  14. Success? Why? • 1986 1.48 • 1988  1.96 • 2004  1.24 Needs time to see positive results? (ST)

  15. VS Foreign Workers? Attracting Foreign Talents • To solve immediate economic concerns • To enhance competitiveness • Smaller population  not possible to produce required professionals for KBE • To boost quality of our workforce • Help create more jobs & increased productivity • Relaxed immigration policy, 1989 • Easier entry into Singapore • Attractive housing • Education packages for children of FTs • Easier to live & work here • Take up citizenship Consequences? • > Cosmopolitan • Enriched our culture • Social tension • Strain on resources • Competition

  16. An ageing population • Post war baby boom • Declining birth rates • Longer life span • Better health care What are some of the needs of the elderly?

  17. Impact of an ageing population • Reduce in competitiveness • Demand for more healthcare and social services • Smaller security force • Strain on working people How can the elderly be an asset to the society?

  18. Who do you think is more responsible? Government Family Preparing for an aged (ageing) population Challenge: 19% of Singaporeans = aged (>65 yrs old) • useful/ assets to the society • Provide opportunities to add value to the public and private organizations, boost family life Community Self

  19. ‘Many Helping Hands’ Approach • Sharing responsibility to take care of senior citizens • Government rely less on increasing taxes • Government can save resources to meet the nation’s other needs

  20. Individual responsibility • Age gracefully through early planning • Healthy lifestyle by eating well and exercising regularly • Financial planning by attending talks Purpose?

  21. Family Support • Provides emotional, social and financial support • Positive attitude towards elderly • Celebrating Grandparents’ Day • Senior Citizen’s Week (MCYS) 1979  3rd week Nov • to encourage the elderly • To remain physically, mentally & socially active • To promote positive attitudes towards ageing and the aged • To promote respect & appreciation for the contributions made by senior citizens

  22. Community Help • Voluntary welfare organizations (Home Nursing Foundation for Elders) • Use of housewives to help the needs of the senior citizens • Free health checks • Recreational activities Purpose?

  23. Government Support ‘Back to Work’ Programme (MoM, NTUC) Sept 1996  encourage housewives & retirees to return to the workforce + better utilise local manpower + alleviate manpower shortages faced by employers + reduce reliance on foreign workers + training grants provided to help retrain job seekers

  24. Government Support • Tribunal for the maintenance of parents • Tax relief • Taking care of elderly parents, grandparents… • Contributing to own or elderly dependents’ CPF retirement accounts • CPF • 1955, Social security scheme – old age, healthcare, homeownership. • All employees • Both employers & employees make monthly contributions • Employers contribute less to employees 65 years old & above. Why? • OA, MA, SA, RA (at age 55) Members must set aside a minimum sum before withdrawing his CPF. • See http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/Members/Gen-Info/mbr-Gen-info.htm • Public housing scheme • Grant for 1st time buyers of HDB if they buy a flat near their parents Purpose?

  25. Who do you think is more responsible? Government Family Preparing for an aged (ageing) population Community Self

  26. The End Wait a minute….

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