Singapore's Population Policies

1. Not enough to replace population

1. Early policies to reduce birth rate
2. Increased costs of living
3. People marrying later due to career

1. Unable to grow economy
2. Unattractive to multinational companies
   1. Larger and cheaper labour market available in China
   2. Small consumer market

1. Weak defense force
2. Open to external threats

1. More resources needed to take care of elderly
   1. Healthcare: hospitals, clinics
   2. Facilities: lifts, wheelchair ramps
   3. Social services: homes for the aged
2. Strain on working population

   Nota:

   • Workforce has to pay increased taxes

1. "Many Helping Hands" approach
   1. Individual
      1. Maintain healthy lifestyle

         Nota:

         • - Watching diet and eating healthy - Exercising regularly
      2. Plan early for old age

         Nota:

         • - Attend talks on financial planning - Read up on retirement options
   2. Family
      1. Senior Citizens' Week

         Nota:

         • - Held in November - Encourages elderly to stay active in their families and communities - Promotes a positive attitude towards ageing and the aged
      2. Grandparents' Week

         Nota:

         • - Held in November - Show appreciation for the elderly
   3. Community
      1. Subsidies for voluntary welfare organizations

         Nota:

         • - Home Nursing Foundation for Elders - Encourage community members to help look after senior citizens
      2. Provide social and emotional support

         Nota:

         • - Free health checks - Organise recreational activities
   4. Government
      1. Tax relief

         Nota:

         • Tax relief can be claimed for: - taking care of elderly family members - contributing to CPF accounts of elderly family members - grandparents who look after grandchildren
      2. Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents

         Nota:

         • Elderly over 60 and unable to support themselves can get help to claim financial support from their children
      3. CPF

         Nota:

         • - Special Account: retirement, emergency and investment - Medisave Account: medical fees - Retirement Account: save money for old age
      4. Public housing schemes

         Nota:

         • Housing grants for buying flats near to parents
2. Senior citizens as assets
   1. Jobs for senior citizens

1. BY PM Lee Kuan Yew
2. FOR female graduates

1. Started 1984
2. Withdrawn 1985
   1. Unpopular among people

1. Parents with high level of education were thought to produce smarter children
2. Female graduates encouraged to have children so new workforce will be more educated

1. Started 1987

1. Encourage families who can afford it to have more children

   Nota:

   • Prevent social problems that arise when families cannot cope financially
2. Increase birth rate to 2.1

1. Allow use of Medisave to cover delivery charges of first 3 children

1. Limited success
   1. Having children in SG still too expensive

      Nota:

      • - Hiring of foreign helpers - Childcare / school fees - Tuition fees
   2. Medisave not enough as medical care is costly
   3. SGeans prefer to spend money on themselves rather than start a family
2. Birth rate fell to 1.24 in 2004

Nota:

• Both parents can claim medical benefits for children from their companies

Nota:

• $3000 tax relief for grandparents who take care of grandchildren

Nota:

• To promote work-life balance

Nota:

• From 8 to 12 weeks

1. Attract foreign talent to boost quality of workforce
2. Foreign companies create more jobs
3. Boost creativity

1. Relaxing immigration policies
2. Assistance to help foreigners relocate to SG