REACH 543 - What are your thoughts on the news about the TFR falling to 0.97? What more can be done to increase birth rates?
(SK)
29 Feb 2024 (10am - 7pm)
REACH
29/2/24, 9:53 am - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*
Welcome back! 😊
⏰ We will be opening the chat from *10am to 7pm* today. ⏰
*House Rules (short version of our Terms of Use) to keep in mind:*
1. Be kind and respectful. We all want to be in a safe space to share our views.
2. Any and all threatening, abusive, vulgar or racially, religiously and ethnically objectionable content is prohibited.
3. Consider the quiet ones among us and give them a chance to comment.
4. No need to repeat your comment or in different forms (including caps) - we heard you loud and clear the first time.
5. Let’s protect each other’s privacy and keep contact details in this group what it should always be - confidential.
*Full set of Terms of Use:* https://go.gov.sg/reach-whatsapp-terms
We will strive to uphold these rules to ensure this is a safe space for all.
Please be assured that the points made by participants during the chat are aggregated and shared with relevant agencies.
The topic will be posted shortly.
Thank you
Megan 😊
29/2/24, 10:01 am - +REACH: 📢 *Topic* 📢
On Wednesday (28 Feb), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Indranee Rajah said in Parliament said that preliminary estimates indicate a resident Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 0.97 in 2023.
*💬 What are your thoughts on the news about the TFR falling to 0.97? What more can be done to increase birth rates?*
📌 *Reasons for the low TFR*
On the reasons for the low TFR, Minister Indranee said, "There are various reasons for Singapore’s low fertility. Some are temporal, for instance, couples that had their marriage plans disrupted by COVID-19, which may have in turn delayed their parenthood plans,”
Others cited concerns about the financial costs of child-raising, pressures to be an excellent parent, or difficulties managing work and family commitments, she added.
📌 *Implications of the low TFR*
In her speech, Minister Indranee said that Singapore’s falling TFR has “serious implications” for the country’s future and its impact can already be seen on society, especially in the rise of sandwiched couples caring for both young and old.
She added that declining fertility rate will also impact Singapore’s economy.
"A vibrant economy is ultimately driven by people. With fewer births, we will face a shrinking workforce. It will be increasingly challenging to maintain our dynamism, attract global businesses, and create opportunities for the next generation,” Ms Indranee said.
📌 *Measures to help parents*
Minister Indranee stated that the government is looking at how paid parental leave can be increased. She also said that MSF will lower childcare fee caps in anchor and partner operator preschools by S$40 in 2025 - as announced during Budget 2024.
Minister Indranee also pointed to measures being implemented to boost support for parents at workplaces, such as increasing government-paid paternity leave to four weeks. She also said that the government will consider ways to help all employers implement flexible work arrangements well and manage their teams productively.
“Ultimately, it will require a whole-of-society effort to build the family-friendly workplace culture that members have called for,” said Ms Indranee.
📌 *Immigration policy in the face of low TFR*
Immigration policies play an important role in mitigating the impact of low birth rates and ageing on the economy and society, said Ms Indranee.
While Minister Indranee emphasised that the immigration policy also helps to meet Singapore’s future population needs, she said, "the Government will continue to maintain a measured and stable pace of immigration, which moderates the impact of demographic trends on the size and age profile of the citizen population."
👉🏻 https://str.sg/BUyz
👉🏻 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-total-fertility-rate-population-parents-children-4155616
29/2/24, 10:01 am - ~ REACH Singapore changed this group's settings to allow all members to send messages to this group
29/2/24, 10:03 am - ~ REACH Singapore changed the group description
-----
29/2/24, 10:16 am - +Rama: Pro family policy incentives needs drastic make over starring with GLC, civil service, various statutory boards and ministries! Dialogue with various chamber of commerce, SME, SNEF, NTUC to see why local companies are not pro family enough!
29/2/24, 10:30 am - +Darius Lee: I think we need soul-searching on a whole-of-society level to think about why our nation has come to this stage. All the economic gains, growth, etc. might begin to decline and even collapse if our demographics don't work out well, with twin problems of an ageing population and low birth rates.
29/2/24, 10:33 am - +Timothy Low: I feel that the promotion of environmental consciousness had also adversely impacted the willingness to give birth. Nowadays youngsters want to reduce their carbon footprint and feel that by bringing one less human to this world will help to achieve that.
29/2/24, 10:35 am - +Rama: Possibly
29/2/24, 10:38 am - +Andrea: This is the heart of the issue - when we prioritise and pursue materialistic economic gains as a society, is it any wonder that non-monetary investments like children would become perceived as nothing more than burdens?
29/2/24, 10:38 am - +Rama: The talk in Parliament yesterday on mnc being understanding to employees taking time off and sharing each other work load needs to happen here!
29/2/24, 10:39 am - +Rama: Yes
29/2/24, 10:39 am - +Andrea: Pro-family workplace policies can only go so far if we do not change the underlying mindsets behind why people choose not to have children
29/2/24, 10:39 am - +Rama: Agree
29/2/24, 10:40 am - +Timothy Low: Of course the stress the kids (also adults) are facing is another contributing factor as well
29/2/24, 10:41 am - +Rama: Peer pressure needs to be addressed!
29/2/24, 10:42 am - +Andrea: A lot of it is also brought on by materialistic goals..
29/2/24, 10:43 am - +Rama: 👍
29/2/24, 10:44 am - +Timothy Low: Perhaps we should ban tuition totally, return the free time to the kids
29/2/24, 10:45 am - +Rama: Parents work life balance important too!
29/2/24, 10:56 am - +Smiley face: 29 February, 2024
"The Golden Time of Dating"
"The Hot & The Cold? Human see and human learned. Human explores and Human experienced. Human failed and human retrospect. Human succeed and Human prospect
If University time (19 yrs -25 yrs range & random) is the Golden opportunity to date and to find your matching half, perhaps, it's time to pour resources into these young people. How to balance and include others who are not in this group?
And thereafter, social and economics policy to follow suits and embrace positive vibes of starting a family sooner than later. It's about individuals ATTITUDE and the BENEFIT from multiple uplifting policies!
-- anonymity
The Put, The Call and The Option?...
29/2/24, 11:03 am - +Smiley face: Let's intensify, magnify and integrate our SDU?
How to...?
29/2/24, 11:07 am - +Christmas: Agree. we need a whole of society change to support having kids. Life is already so stressful - whether it’s cost of living, workplace pressures, pressure in schools, etc. Life is hard, pressurising. What would be the incentive to have kids? Pple are afraid that it will just add to costs and stress and they don’t want the kids to suffer stress either. If only as a whole of society, the pressure and stress could ease. Make life easier, fun. Redefine success away from just materialistic success or high paying jobs. If people are enjoying life, it’s more natural that they would also want to bring children into the world to enjoy it. Just handing out money is not going to solve the root cause.
29/2/24, 11:11 am - +Frankie Wee: Parent live in 90s different from now
Things has changed since crisis and pandemic
29/2/24, 11:11 am - +Rama: No excuse!
29/2/24, 11:13 am - +GLCM: The current gen grew up as children of their parents. But why are they not keen to have kids of their own?
Anything to do with the way they were brought up? Or how the world is right now compared to the days when they were kids? Or the projected world in time to come?
29/2/24, 11:15 am - +Frankie Wee: Money not enough
Salaryman need more amount they can live independent themselves.
29/2/24, 11:15 am - +Rama: Your comments starting from anything says right
29/2/24, 11:23 am - +KL: Actually it the inequalities. The rich have much more resource in sg compared to to the poor or even middle income . Example I study very hard got only C,C, D , GP c6 another guy study , D, D , D , GP B3 than he can tuition etc . Put these aside recently I got to know TOP GLC would rather hire a job hoper, that reject citizenship retain as PR. <This message was edited>
29/2/24, 11:24 am - +Rama: Wow!
29/2/24, 11:25 am - +KL: I really wonder why ?
29/2/24, 11:25 am - +Frankie Wee: Kiddos are competitive in school getting high score and dream to be a star when they grow up. Failed do not mean very lousy grades but goal will stand up
29/2/24, 11:26 am - +Frankie Wee: Parent had hard time for child support and care. When growth up that’s things are changed differently from old gen parent.
29/2/24, 11:26 am - +KL: True , it a disadvantage for those born in 80s to 90s
29/2/24, 11:27 am - +Frankie Wee: 90s system education alway make change new education and skill level.
29/2/24, 11:28 am - +KL: In 2000s force everyone to take useless SATS Test and in the end good jc that don’t intend to go overseas never take lol <This message was edited>
29/2/24, 11:29 am - +KL: Oops I forgot all school are good schools
29/2/24, 11:29 am - +Rama: Watching a tik tok video. Son of Kirkham been in Singapore for 25 years. Can pass off as a local better than us. Yet, PR rejected as father 25 years contract expired! He and siblings studied up to university. Want to work here. Went to see former DPM WKS. Was simply told indirectly, opportunities are world wide!
29/2/24, 11:30 am - +Frankie Wee: I believe 2030 Singapore education system will surely new subject they take up meantime short cut at 15 age will start take enter level polytechnic or University
29/2/24, 11:31 am - +Frankie Wee: Make it change new system much earlier for kiddos in school less stress
29/2/24, 11:31 am - +Rama: Local employers are heartless!
29/2/24, 11:31 am - +Frankie Wee: Ai more smart
29/2/24, 11:31 am - +KL: Actually at school is stress but relevance ?
29/2/24, 11:32 am - +KL: I saw TCM course in ntu and I saw a lot from those China university as welll .
29/2/24, 11:33 am - +Frankie Wee: Need take up skillfuture because those day many things has beyond changed than old system
29/2/24, 11:33 am - +KL: Learn how to Wash toilet ?
29/2/24, 11:33 am - +KL: Sone course are so fake and dubious
29/2/24, 11:34 am - +Frankie Wee: Possible I heard about skillfuture course
29/2/24, 11:34 am - +KL: I think sg gov need to really think if not all money just throw into water
29/2/24, 11:34 am - +Frankie Wee: What kind of toilet technology
29/2/24, 11:34 am - +KL: A lot of course in university are just dumping ground
29/2/24, 11:34 am - +KL: It show a lot
29/2/24, 11:35 am - +KL: Most mnc hire Malaysian and they only study external program
29/2/24, 11:35 am - +KL: No need to quote right :)
29/2/24, 11:35 am - +KL: If quote I don’t think is nice
29/2/24, 11:36 am - +Frankie Wee: Malaysia many flowed to Singapore job
29/2/24, 11:36 am - +KL: Good question
29/2/24, 11:37 am - +KL: Even 90 year old cleaner can see
29/2/24, 11:37 am - +Rama: Sgd580!?😳🤦♂️
29/2/24, 11:37 am - +KL: Not sure never resreach
29/2/24, 11:37 am - +Rama: 😆😄🤷♂️
29/2/24, 11:37 am - +KL: I did look at some of the course
29/2/24, 11:37 am - +KL: Why no optical course ? <This message was edited>
29/2/24, 11:50 am - +KL: Correct but Too late also . Create too many singles between 2014 to now
29/2/24, 11:51 am - +Smiley face: What are the fundamentals, the critical elements and the correct optimum formula for baby making? The key is optimisation and not overly producing babies which will bring new complicated social and economic issues later on in the progress of a nation. Too little babies or too many babies will yield more headaches to society. ...
29/2/24, 11:53 am - +Rama: Over producing will not happen due to cost, adequate support from family and employers.
29/2/24, 11:54 am - +KL: Now sg that why turn to pr . But many pr trying to gain benefit of both sides . So now sure how u Donna do it to sg advance
29/2/24, 11:55 am - +KL: Even pr married Sg , they still thinking to retain both side citizenship . That why so many footballer escape ns right
29/2/24, 11:55 am - +KL: It a proof
29/2/24, 11:56 am - +Smiley face: Boom or Doom or Random?
Why the current World Top Ten baby producing nations are from the Africa continent? Is it that simple to achieve or it is complex to attain? Why the developed nations are not producing more than their counterpart? Random or Unplanned?...
29/2/24, 11:57 am - +KL: U need to study sec 4 human geography . <This message was edited>
29/2/24, 11:57 am - +Rama: Economic gain only!
29/2/24, 11:57 am - +Rama: Cost of living!?
29/2/24, 11:58 am - +KL: I think is mortality rate and lack of knowledge increase population <This message was edited>
29/2/24, 11:59 am - +KL: In fact the higher cost of living will cos population decrease
29/2/24, 11:59 am - +Rama: Too much for the developed world! ?
29/2/24, 12:00 pm - +Smiley face: And why after WW2, came the baby boom period from 1945 to 1964? Was war a key factor of procreation or was it a momentum of euphoria (happiness) after a big war ended that led humankind to peace and prosperity and to give birth to more babies? Was it Random walked then and now randomly waking up to reality?...
29/2/24, 12:01 pm - +KL: Cos u need the manpower to replace the ppl lost . That why got more ppl give birth . It cos morality rate was low . Thus give birth few more just in case if I not wrong <This message was edited>
29/2/24, 12:02 pm - +KL: Most developed countries after ww2 was almost flatten to ground
29/2/24, 12:02 pm - +KL: Except USA if I not wrong
29/2/24, 12:03 pm - +Smiley face: The US has their high point in 2007 over 4 million babies matched 1957 numbers and thereafter slowed till today to half a million. And Indonesia's recording over 5 million babies yearly (unrecorded birthday?)....
29/2/24, 12:09 pm - +KL: Got a feeling is USA got too much illegal immigrate that explain <This message was edited>
29/2/24, 12:10 pm - +KL: I think USA is birth right policy right ?
29/2/24, 1:34 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Correction :-
Yesterday, DPM Lawrence Wong clarify that the Government will make structural support measures the permanent feature in the yearly fiscal budget.
And the following are structural support measures :-
a. ComLink+
b. Skillsfuture
c. Redundancy allowance
All the above are meant to provide financial relief to people who temporary lose their jobs - and are given a "legs up" - temporary financial relief for them to get training for new jobs and to look for alternative jobs.
2. Hence, I was wrong to conclude that GST voucher, COL, CDC voucher, scc rebates, power and water bill, senior payout etc are consider structural support schemes.
It confirm my suspicion after DPM clarification - what constitute structural support measures.
In fact, these voucher components are considered cash handouts - to relief high inflation - and are not structural support measures - as they do not incentivise people to look for alternative jobs - but merely provide financial relief to tackle high living costs.
3. Having say so, the objective of structural support measures are to incentivise people to get jobs and income. When succeeded, these group of people will be able to "fish on their own".
4. Then it left with seniors who are retired (and live on their retirement savings) as well as those young ones in schools or disabled as well as those with lower and middle income groups that have to grapple with higher living costs.
5. So making structural support measures a permanent feature - make economical sense - as it help people to be productive and contribute to the Economy.
But I feel that the Government must also not forgo the support handout to those groups in 4.
6. As more people are in the workforce with higher income spearheaded by PWM & aided by the structural support measures - Government will have more revenue from taxes.
Hence, helping the group in 4 will be less strenuous - to help the group in 4 to cope with the higher living cost - as food prices, good prices, and other prices seems to be entrenched and not coming down.
7. To conclude, I hope the Government will consider making the 2 support measures as permanent features for yearly fiscal budget :-
a. Structural support measures - ComLink+, Skillsfuture, Redundancy allowance (to provide temporary financial relief - and help people to find alternative jobs).
b. Cash handout support measures - eg. GST voucher, CDC voucher, COL, scc rebates, power & water bill rebates, senior payout etc - to help targeted groups like retirees, young in schools, disabled, lower and middle income groups.
8. Hopefully, the following requirements also need to be uphold:
a. Don't draw on reserves for yearly fiscal budget
b. Maintain slight fiscal surplus and accumulate to Sovereign reserves.
c. Try not to budget fiscal deficit - that requires loan borrowing and issuance of bonds - that will burden our younger generations and future descendants.
9. This will then be the hallmark of a responsible and successful Government - and ensure a social compact population.
29/2/24, 1:50 pm - +Smiley face: Making people happier...
29/2/24, 2:00 pm - +REACH: 📢 *Topic* 📢
29/2/24, 2:09 pm - +Rose M K Ho: My two cents worth ...
Regarding Skillsfuture ...
1. I feel tt Training Providers r taking adv of the scheme. Course fees r way _too_ high, over rated in some cases, such tt, even _after_ applying Skillsfuture subsidy, we still hv to pay over the top to take the course.
The purpose of the subsidy is to make the course _more affordable_.
But looking at the fees I hv to pay even after deduction of subsidy, is still too high! 😅
Therefore, _r the fees Realistic_, to begin with?
Can the gov look into this and ensure tt the providers r not over charging in the first place ?
2. I m now 65. I am semi-retired. I wanna use the Skillsfuture subsidy given to me.
I m not doing any mid career switch nor looking for Diploma type courses.
I just wanna enrich my life w more aesthetic & technological type of courses, tt r for just personal growth & enrichment .
I just wan short courses tt wl touch on these.
😖 sadly, ther r no such courses tt I can take which hv Skillsfuture subsidy.
Can the gov look into this?
3. Seems to me the gov / training providers r just wanting to make more money fr this scheme, but neglecting seniors' needs like us.
Why dun u ask us seniors wat kinda courses we want ? Like calligraphy (not w NAFA cert) - just for personal growth / enrichment, like flower arrangement, like understanding AI ... just for helping us to know wat it is ... not to become a certified professional! ... and so on ....
Like maximising use of handphones ... and so on
Gov, wud appreciate if u can look into this. 👆🏻
Thank you.
29/2/24, 2:15 pm - +Rama: Totally agree!
29/2/24, 2:24 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
1. TFR 0.97 is really alarming.
It cannot even replace 1 person - not to mention a couple of 2 persons.
2. Having local born Singaporeans are important - as we need locally bred Singaporeans to helm important functions such as in the Government, security institutions, critical infrastructure, finance etc as well as to upheld the right social mix, and culture.
3. Every family and household will have various reasons why people are not having more babies that can range from:-
a. People prefer to be singles - more freedom, less family stress.
b. Young people have less times or wants to socialise to look for a companion and get married.
c. Married couples prefer to spend time as a couple and not to have kids.
d. High costs in raising kids - whereby married couples already hard press to cope with high living cost - and sandwich to finance their elder parents as well.
e. Couples need money to finance their houses, high living costs - and will hesitate to breed and raise kids.
f. Some jobs are less flexible and couples will not be able to take care of jobs and kids at the same time.
g. Difficult for couples to get flat near their parent's place to look after their kids while they are at work.
h. Couples worried that their kids may have problems to do well in schools and hence affect their careers and future - hence rather not to have kids or have lesser kids.
i. External environments such as geopolitical tensions, war, conflict, global warming, pandemic, global supply disruption etc make people more worried about their future and the bleak futures discourage couples from having babies - not wanting their offsprings to suffer.
j. Careers security is not guaranteed and career cycle is getting shorter - with tech disruptors, AI etc - hence couples will feel job insecurity, less likely to want to raise kids and bring burden to the family.
k. The fear, insecurity and pessimism arising from all the above factors - will make couples not to have kids - fearful of their kids future, security and well-being.
29/2/24, 2:25 pm - +Rama: TFR has dropped to below 1!
29/2/24, 2:33 pm - +Smiley face: Then how?
29/2/24, 2:43 pm - +Rama: A drastic change in mindset across all concerned must be addressed ASAP before imported singaporeans become the norm!
29/2/24, 2:43 pm - +Smiley face: Child Subsidies for Households with new born to schooling children?
"If one main concern of our young people is the cost of living then we should attempt to relieve even more so to get these anxieties over money which is directly linked to social mobility and affordability and start thinking of marriage and the larger meaning and purpose of life."
-- anonymity
Proposal:
For Households Monthly Disposable Income:-
$4,000 and below
1) $50/mth full-day child care and Kindergarten
2) Housing loan at the lowest rates for first 5 years and the next 10 years at higher rates of no more than 1.0%
$4,000 to $5,000
1) $75/mth full-day child care and Kindergarten
2) Housing loan at the lowest rates for first 5 years and the next 10 years at higher rates difference of no more than 1.0%
3) Highest amount of CDC vouchers and fees subsidies
$5,000 to $6,000
1) $100/mth full-day child care and Kindergarten
2) Housing loan at the lowest rates for first 5 years and the next 10 years at higher rates difference of no more than 1.25%
3) Second highest amount of CDC vouchers and fees subsidies
$6,000 to $7,000
1) $125/mth full-day child care and Kindergarten
2) Housing loan at the lowest rates for first 5 years and the next 10 years at higher rates difference of no more than 1.25%
3) CDC vouchers and lower fees subsides
$7,000 to $8,000
1) $150/mth full-day child care and Kindergarten
2) Housing loan at the lowest rates for first 5 years and the next 10 years at higher rates difference of no more than 1.5%
3) CDC vouchers and lower fees subsides
29/2/24, 2:47 pm - +Smiley face: "If we agreed that the COL is a new high and normalized then the use of Disposable Income as one means test perhaps is more accurate assessment of household abilities, month to month and over the years ."
--anonymity
29/2/24, 2:56 pm - +Smiley face: ABC, 1,2,3 ?
Attitude, Benevolence, Commitment, the ABC of a successful relationship and marriage. Or perhaps, otherwise realistically folks would say that Abundance, Mutual Benefits and Compatibility are the true price tag of marriages?...
29/2/24, 2:59 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Getting married and having babies are something very personal.
2. As long as couples mind are at ease, less fear, less feeling of insecurity, more optimistic about the future - naturally couples will want to have their offsprings to make their marriage complete.
3. The crux is, "how to make couples mind at ease, feel secure and optimistic" - to want to have kids.
4. On a personal level, if the following conditions exist, having babies will not be a big issue :-
a. Able to secure and financially able to support a house for the couple and offsprings.
b. Financially sound to sustain the couple and kids.
c. Can manage jobs and families with kids - with balance lifestyles.
d. Couple have secure careers up to old age - to ensure family financial commitment is assured.
e. Have confidence that the kids will do well in studies and secure a good career.
f. Good healthcare and no health issues for all the family memers - whereby all lead a health life.
g. Have sufficient financial muscle to cope with rising cost and inflation.
h. External and domestic environment will be stable and secured - with no life threatening events such as war, conflict, global warming that destroy lives, pandemic can be contained.
i. For singles, there must be opportunities for singles to meet and get hitched. Seems like Government has pay less attention to get singles to get together to get married - unlike previously there are SDU, SDS etc.
5. Hence to tackle the TFR from dropping to 0.97 and trigger a rebound in TFR, there is a need to tackle point 4.
29/2/24, 3:11 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
1. As the Government and the Society as a whole attempt to tackle the falling TFR, a stop gap measure to get the Economy going - is getting PR immigrants to convert into Singapore citizens - for those that can contribute to our Economy and can immerse into our culture and behave like Singaporeans.
2. We have no choice but to rely on immigrants - if we have a hard time giving birth to more babies and replace our TFR as immigrants if start a family here and give birth to offsprings in Singapore - the offsprings are also Singaporeans and behave like Singaporeans.
3. Important that the same proportion of racial, social and culture mix and ratio must be maintained to ensure peace and prosperity to our various communities Singapore.
29/2/24, 3:14 pm - +Rama: Means testing must be relooked!
29/2/24, 3:15 pm - +Rama: MBA/PHD holders request for PR/citizenship must be relooked!
29/2/24, 3:16 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Why only this 2 groups?
29/2/24, 3:26 pm - +Rama: From some soc social media posts. Skills they possess don't necessarily mean automatic consideration!
29/2/24, 3:28 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
I think immigrants converted to Singaporeans will not only targeted at those with higher education.
It comprise all income levels including blue collars.
We need people from all strata and skillets.
29/2/24, 3:35 pm - +Smiley face: Pilot study to improve chances of IVF pregnancy; 590 enrolled as at January 2024
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/590-patients-enrolled-in-pilot-study-to-improve-chances-of-ivf-pregnancy-as-of-january-2024
29/2/24, 3:41 pm - +Poh S Lim: TFR is a very complex issue and bedevils many countries which have reached ‘developed’ status, both western and eastern.
I believe it is of economic origin as the cost of bearing and raising children has risen but at the same time the healthcare systems reduced infant mortality making it less urgent to have more children, so disposable income can be used for a better quality of life.
This is a conscious decision made in aggregate by large percentage of the population results in low TFR.
This is not helped further by biological reality that there is a time limit to child-bearing age of women and lower sperm counts in men due to stress or other reasons.
For Singapore we have had various policies to help increase the population but so far, it has not really worked and that birth rates of ‘locals’ remain low.
Remembering that Singapore has always relied on immigration since the days of its founding, I think we will always be reliant on immigration to maintain that any population increase.
The only thing then is to keep tweaking our immigration policies, laws and systems so that it keeps maintaining stability and harmony and to ‘Singaporenize’ all would-be immigrants. Singapore has no choice but to remain a global city. <This message was edited>
29/2/24, 3:47 pm - +Smiley face: A great analysis!
Bio-rhythm of both sex and the needs to continue rejuvenating our nation.
29/2/24, 3:48 pm - +Smiley face: The Put, The Call and The Option?
It's just human that dating and marriage are two happiness of any human life's and dating has to happen before marriage arrives, that's a natural progression and momentum, simply no short cut or rushing!
If this is so true then dating is the golden time of more happiness to come or more mismatching between two human beings. It is always nicer to speak about success than failure, in this game of dating. Courting couples are full of enthusiasm over each other and the elementary human instincts of curiosity surfaces in the course of these initiations and later on progress to intimate relationships.
So how not to step into pitfall when relationship is concern? How to assess one another suitability from simple behavior such as habits from waking up to sleeping time? All of these daily routines (lifestyles) of a human matter when a new partner enters into this human life....
29/2/24, 4:00 pm - +REACH: 📢 *Topic* 📢
29/2/24, 4:12 pm - +Thank You: Let's tax more money!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHNkUbzNbII
29/2/24, 4:12 pm - +Thank You: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
29/2/24, 4:13 pm - +Thank You: Once you have a kid is all
About $$$$$$$$$$$$ and no freedom
29/2/24, 4:37 pm - +Rama: Agree
29/2/24, 4:37 pm - +Smiley face: How about those high flying Career Women eventually dropping their jobs to bear a child and thereafter to raise the child? Some will go back to work while others chose to be homemakers.
What are the sacrifices and sufferings of these group of highly educated women? Unequal?
What are the ways to encourage them and to understand the big decision that they undertake just to meet many ends meet?
Are there attractive incentives for women?
It's a tough call for women!
29/2/24, 4:38 pm - +Rama: Marriage and pro creation tough to promote!
29/2/24, 4:39 pm - +Smiley face: The endgame for some is to remain Single or in some cases, D. And D stands for Divorce!
29/2/24, 4:40 pm - +Rama: Agree
29/2/24, 4:48 pm - +Frankie Wee: Japan also population crisis and shortage
29/2/24, 4:49 pm - +Rama: South Korea too!
29/2/24, 4:49 pm - +Frankie Wee: That’s has a purpose in life creation mean begin new family life.
Sometime eventually has happened having problem cope financially and healthy relationships.
29/2/24, 4:55 pm - +Frankie Wee: Let’s said love gossiping
One neighbour said I have 5 kids they are big adult and I also no worry in future pass down generations.
Other said neighbour said I have no kids in family line. My future will sacrifice everything donate to charity.
29/2/24, 4:56 pm - +Rama: 🤷♂️
29/2/24, 4:57 pm - +Frankie Wee: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/sgh-nurse-81-years-old-never-too-old-4120806
29/2/24, 4:58 pm - +Frankie Wee: Every has different story lifetime
29/2/24, 5:08 pm - +Rose M K Ho: ** A few more points ...
^^ Many Seniors r retirees or semi-retirees w little or no income.
We shd be able to use the Skillsfuture credits, either to pay for the _entire_ course , ie. No further out-of-pocket payment, or just a small affordable amt,
not have to still pay $100's !! after subsidy!
^^ After all, if u r giving us $1k, I wud expect to go for, say, 7-8 short courses , and not blow it all in One course -- which means the Original Course Fee shd be realistic, to begin with!
^^ U can also break up the long courses into short modules tt r affordable.
^^ Since we hv the credits in our accounts, Gov shd look into helping Seniors to use these , rather than let the credits lapse becoz ther r
_No courses tt r either *of interest* or *affordable* or *of the right duration*_
for us to take!
^^ It wud be a shame to waste such resources, as these credits wl expire if not used.
^^ Wat is the point then, if ther r no matching courses for our cohort to take & u only focus on those career upskilling ones?
🤔
If u nd time to get the courses together for us, then I wud suggest tt u extend the validity of the Skillsfuture credits for Seniors instead of allowing it to lapse.
Tq.
29/2/24, 5:09 pm - +Rama: Agree
29/2/24, 5:19 pm - +Smiley face: Perhaps, Skillsfuture should look into suitable and matching courses for seniors.
Second, is it possible to be FOC?
Third, if seniors choose nothing, can the money be credited to their medisave account or OA?
29/2/24, 5:19 pm - +Sally: This message was deleted
29/2/24, 5:19 pm - +Rama: FOC!?
29/2/24, 5:19 pm - +Smiley face: Fees matching with the given Grant
29/2/24, 5:20 pm - +Smiley face: Without Women there will be no Mankind. And no Mankind means no life! Life in a nutshell is to create life!
29/2/24, 5:42 pm - +Frankie Wee: Is a woman carry pregnant is touch life while going to work full time?
Is it true?
29/2/24, 5:44 pm - +Frankie Wee: In western or part of Europe or Switzerland when woman having a pregnant 🤰 she received allow pension 8 months while working half hours. Balance life health and financial support benefit.
29/2/24, 5:45 pm - +Rose M K Ho: Tq. 🙏🏻
29/2/24, 5:52 pm - +Smiley face: You are always welcome!
29/2/24, 6:11 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
My close friend comments:-
I started planting ideas about raising children to my children when they in primary schools.
I suggested that they should look out for potential partners in universities. Plan their BTO and marriage right after they graduate. Have kids and don't worry Daddy and Mommy would (still young in our early fifties) help take care of their children. A blissful picture! My children happily agreed then.
But no!
We offered our children to temporarily stayed with us while waiting for completion of their Btos, we even offered to pay their rental to encourage them to get married early. We openly talked about taking full care of their children since we are in good health and still young seniors.
My elder child and partner, adamantly decided they are not going to have any children. And other children separately told me they haven't decided if they wanted children.
Now I seriously ponder if I had not given them a happy childhood. They followed our advice, worked hard, excel academically, now got caught in chasing career goals. Child bearing is not an option. Hearing from one child, it even sounded like it would bring suffering (to the child).
I think our problems may be deeper than those commonly cited...
29/2/24, 6:19 pm - +Rama: 🤷♂️
29/2/24, 6:30 pm - +Smiley face: Simple Mind ? Complicated mind? Over thinking mind ?
29/2/24, 6:31 pm - +Rama: Mixture
29/2/24, 6:31 pm - +Smiley face: Why young adults are deferring child birth or no child marriage?
29/2/24, 6:32 pm - +Smiley face: African mindsets vs Asian Mindsets vs American mindsets vs European mindsets?
29/2/24, 6:32 pm - +Rama: This current generation thinks differently
29/2/24, 6:32 pm - +Rama: Genes! ?
29/2/24, 6:32 pm - +Jess Sunga: This message was deleted
29/2/24, 6:33 pm - +Smiley face: What factors caused the shift in thinking and mindsets?
29/2/24, 6:33 pm - +Rama: Multiple
29/2/24, 6:33 pm - +Smiley face: Why? Any idea?
29/2/24, 6:34 pm - +Smiley face: One sensitive issue is the prospect of future competency and the present educational level of either dating couple from the angle of parents. How able or capable to raise a stable family is their son or daughter's potential life partner? Living in a costly environment, money and cost of living are the real challenges for the young couples to consider prior to engagement and to marry. Is financial abilities or family wealth a critical criteria either to the lovers and or the parents?...
29/2/24, 6:36 pm - +Rama: Singapore HR policies across all local businesses needs to be pro family with adequate understanding from colleagues and employers.
29/2/24, 6:38 pm - +Smiley face: More off time?
29/2/24, 6:38 pm - +Smiley face: 4 days week?
29/2/24, 6:39 pm - +Rama: Have to study further how this works in Europe.
29/2/24, 6:40 pm - +Rama: Flexible work arrangements with support.
29/2/24, 6:43 pm - +Smiley face: Now, given the TFA is 0.97, the future may dip to 0.5.
Given this downtrend, it's time now to increase to 1.5?
Why? The range or in statistics is the distribution, from 0.5 to 1.5 is a ONE!
Therefore, it is timely to look harder at how to stop the dipping and two, raise it to 1.5 !
29/2/24, 6:44 pm - +Rama: Drastic thinking needed!
29/2/24, 6:46 pm - +Smiley face: Either you fight to fill ONE or you try to reach that halfway!
Which scenario will be less disruptive?
29/2/24, 6:46 pm - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*
⏰ We will be closing the chat in *15 minutes* ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
29/2/24, 6:49 pm - +Rama: Halfway first while working on the balance!
29/2/24, 6:51 pm - +Smiley face: Yes...
What is our target for productivity and how about the optimal point of population size and let's say 2030?
That's the job of the demographer and the Policymakers to calibrate and decide.
29/2/24, 6:52 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
29/2/24, 6:52 pm - +Rama: Critical local manpower needed to be maintained.
29/2/24, 6:53 pm - +Smiley face: Let's use digital tools to balance it up!
29/2/24, 6:53 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
29/2/24, 6:53 pm - +Rama: Urgently!
29/2/24, 6:54 pm - +Smiley face: Cannot hurry but it needs thorough thinking, planning, executing and implementing many policies.
29/2/24, 6:55 pm - +Rama: Not that urgently but need immediate attention!
29/2/24, 6:55 pm - +Smiley face: Let's study how China is doing with their impending dip of the TFR.
29/2/24, 6:56 pm - +Rama: They had to reverse the one child policy!
29/2/24, 6:56 pm - +Smiley face: Too little and a bit late!
29/2/24, 6:57 pm - +Rama: Agree
29/2/24, 6:57 pm - +Smiley face: Three is the golden key!
29/2/24, 6:57 pm - +Rama: We too had a similar problem way back!
29/2/24, 6:57 pm - +Smiley face: SG is two and three is the best!
29/2/24, 6:57 pm - +Smiley face: Oh O, Oh no....
29/2/24, 6:57 pm - +Rama: 4
29/2/24, 6:58 pm - +Smiley face: Wow! Like manufacturing!
29/2/24, 6:58 pm - +Smiley face: Then economic development was a priority!
29/2/24, 6:58 pm - +Rama: 😄😆
29/2/24, 6:59 pm - +Rama: Hope we learned!?
29/2/24, 6:59 pm - +Smiley face: Ironman vs Superman vs wonder woman!
29/2/24, 6:59 pm - +Smiley face: We learned!
29/2/24, 6:59 pm - +Smiley face: 29 February, 2024
"The Golden Time of Dating"
"Human see and human learned. Human explores and Human experienced. Human failed and human retrospect. Human succeed and Human prospect.
If University time (19 yrs -25 yrs range & random) is the Golden opportunity to date and to find your matching half, perhaps, it's time to pour resources into these young people. How to balance and include others who are not in this group?
And thereafter, social and economics policy to follow suits and embrace positive vibes of starting a family sooner than later. It's about individuals ATTITUDE and the BENEFIT from multiple uplifting policies!
-- anonymity
The Put, The Call and The Option?
It's just human that dating and marriage are two happiness of any human life's and dating has to happen before marriage arrives, that's a natural progression and momentum, simply no short cut or rushing!
If this is so true then dating is the golden time of more happiness to come or more mismatching between two human beings. It is always nicer to speak about success than failure, in this game of dating. Courting couples are full of enthusiasm over each other and the elementary human instincts of curiosity surfaces in the course of these initiations and later on progress to intimate relationships.
So how not to step into pitfall when relationship is concern? How to assess one another suitability from simple behavior such as habits from waking up to sleeping time? All of these daily routines (lifestyles) of a human matter when a new partner enters into this human life.
The next barrier of entry is parent's approval and acceptance of a potential candidate that the children brought home and introduced to their parents and or at suitable occasions showcase to close friends and relatives. Character matters and the pleasant outlook is another superficial attribute to all human perceptions of other Humankind.
One sensitive issue is the prospect of future competency and the present educational level of either dating couple from the angle of parents. How able or capable to raise a stable family is their son or daughter's potential life partner? Living in a costly environment, money and cost of living are the real challenges for the young couples to consider prior to engagement and to marry. Is financial abilities or family wealth a critical criteria either to the lovers and or the parents?
Child Subsidies for Households with new born to schooling children?
If one main concern of our young people is the cost of living then we should attempt to relieve even more so to get these anxieties over money which is directly linked to social mobility and affordability and start thinking of marriage and the larger meaning and purpose of life.
"If we agreed that the cost of living is a new high and normalized then the use of Disposable Income as one means test perhaps is more accurate assessment of household abilities, month to month and over the years ."
-- anonymity
Proposal:
For Households Monthly Disposable Income:-
$4,000 and below
1) $50/mth full-day child care and Kindergarten
2) Housing loan at the lowest rates for first 5 years and the next 10 years at higher rates of no more than 1.0%
$4,000 to $5,000
1) $75/mth full-day child care and Kindergarten
2) Housing loan at the lowest rates for first 5 years and the next 10 years at higher rates difference of no more than 1.0%
3) Highest amount of CDC vouchers and fees subsidies
$5,000 to $6,000
1) $100/mth full-day child care and Kindergarten
2) Housing loan at the lowest rates for first 5 years and the next 10 years at higher rates difference of no more than 1.25%
3) Second highest amount of CDC vouchers and fees subsidies
$6,000 to $7,000
1) $125/mth full-day child care and Kindergarten
2) Housing loan at the lowest rates for first 5 years and the next 10 years at higher rates difference of no more than 1.25%
3) CDC vouchers and lower fees subsides
$7,000 to $8,000
1) $150/mth full-day child care and Kindergarten
2) Housing loan at the lowest rates for first 5 years and the next 10 years at higher rates difference of no more than 1.5%
3) CDC vouchers and lower fees subsides
All of these variables will decide the fate of couples to continue further or to terminate their relationships or ultimately, married !
ABC, 1,2,3 ?
Attitude, Benevolence, Commitment, the ABC of a successful relationship and marriage. Or perhaps, otherwise realistically folks would say that Abundance, Mutual Benefits and Compatibility are the true price tag of marriages? One common failure of marriage is Divorce! Starting all over again or never marry again! That's it!
Afterwords:
Boom or Doom or Random?
Why the current World Top Ten baby producing nations are from the Africa continent? Is it that simple to achieve or it is complex to attain? Why the developed nations are not producing more than their counterpart? Random or Unplanned?
And why after WW2, came the baby boom period from 1945 to 1964? Was war a key factor of procreation or was it a momentum of euphoria (happiness) after a big war ended that led humankind to peace and prosperity and to give birth to more babies? Was it Random walked then and now randomly waking up to reality?
The US has their high point in 2007 over 4 million babies matched 1957 numbers and thereafter slowed till today to half a million. And Indonesia's recording over 5 million babies yearly (unrecorded birthday?).
What are the fundamentals, the critical elements and the correct optimum formula for baby making? The key is optimisation and not overly producing babies which will bring new complicated social and economic issues later on in the progress of a nation. Too little babies or too many babies will yield more headaches to society.
So it is the right size, the right place and the right time, the three fundamentals or elements to formulate an optimiser to population replacement or so called rejuvenate or policymakers called it the TFR ?
- - in progress - -
29/2/24, 7:01 pm - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
29/2/24, 7:01 pm - ~ REACH Singapore changed this group's settings to allow only admins to send messages to this group
====
