Costs among areas being looked at to encourage more to start families

PAP Women’s Wing suggests regular review of childcare subsidies to address concerns

- Anjali Raguraman Correspondent

A regular review of childcare subsidies is among the suggestions by the People’s Action Party’s Women’s Wing to manage the costs of raising children.

It also pledged to keep an eye on the proportion of disposable income couples are prepared to spend on raising a child, in order to make the necessary policy suggestions and advocate for a better environment for couples to start and grow a family.

“With Singapore’s birth rate being what it is, we have to be very realistic about the presence of barriers — whether real or in terms of people’s mindset — when it comes to marriage and parenthood,” Women’s Wing chair Sim Ann, who is also Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs, said on Sept 20.

“We have to ensure that policies are constantly updated to address these concerns,” she told media at the annual PAP Women’s Wing conference at Paradox Singapore hotel.

At the same event, Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Ong Ye Kung, who was the guest of honour, said the Government will continue to evolve its policies to support women through every stage of their lives.

Policies aside, mindsets as a society also have to evolve, he said. Schemes like shared parental leave will help only if fathers actively take them up.

On encouraging couples to have children, he said “no amount of baby bonuses” would reverse the trend of a falling birth rate, acknowledging that choosing to start a family is a profound personal choice.