Govt foots bill for longer maternity leave
AUG 23, 2004
Govt foots bill for longer maternity leave
By Tee Hun Ching
LONGER maternity leave, lower maid levy and an enhanced baby bonus scheme are among the long-awaited package of pro- baby measures outlined last night.
Noting that childcare is a key concern of parents, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said maternity leave will be extended from eight to 12 weeks for working mothers.
The Government will pick up the tab for extra expenses incurred by this new benefit, which will apply to the fourth child as well.
The baby bonus scheme, which now applies only to the second and third child, will be extended to the first and fourth child. The scheme was introduced in 2000 and provides for a yearly allowance of $500 for the second child and $1,000 for the third, for six years.
Families with children younger than 12 will also enjoy lower maid levy, but the amount was not announced last night.
Full details of these and other baby-friendly perks, such as infant-care subsidy and enhanced tax breaks, will be unveiled on Wednesday by Mr Lim Hng Kiang.
The newly appointed Trade and Industry Minister chairs a steering committee of ministers and MPs set up earlier this year to address Singapore's baby woes.
The country's birth rate hit an all-time low of 1.26 last year with just 37,600 births, well below the population replacement rate of 2.1.
Calling the baby dearth a 'serious problem' that also plagues places like Hong Kong, developed countries such as Japan and South Korea and states in Europe, Mr Lee noted that this 'delicate' issue has been raised in past National Day Rally speeches.
'My people tell me, 'Mr Lee (Kuan Yew) raised it in his 18th National Day Rally'.
'What about Goh Chok Tong? He waited for his 10th National Day Rally. This is my first one. So new babies, please be understanding.'
In line with the 'holistic' approach that was promised, the slew of procreation policies include family-friendly measures such as equal medical benefits for men and women civil servants.
Acknowledging that starting a family is an issue about values and not incentives, PM Lee took time to paint parenthood as a fulfilling task that transcends dollars and cents.
'You can have the most successful career, you can be the richest man on earth or the most powerful man or woman on earth.
'But if you don't have a family and don't have children, I think you're missing something.'
Even when his children are 50 years old, 'if I'm still around, I will still be fussing, 'Drink your pao shen (ginseng), take care of yourself, don't overstrain',' he added, as laughter broke out.
Mr Lee also took pains to stress that the decision will be left to the individual.
'It's a national problem, it is also an intensely personal business... We are not going to micro-manage your lives,' he said.
The package alone will not solve the baby shortage, he conceded. 'But if it changes Singaporean mindsets towards marriage, family and children, and causes people to think again and reorder their priorities in life, then I think it will contribute to turning the situation around.'
Couples interviewed by The Straits Times appreciated the new measures.
For business development manager Patricia Tan, 30, and her account manager husband Hanick, 32, the lower maid levy is especially helpful. The couple, who pay about $700 a month in salary and levy for the maid, have a one-year-old daughter.
Said Mrs Tan: 'A lower levy will really help lighten our load and encourage us to plan for more children.'
Mr Sonny Lee, 31, an associate in a broking firm, hoped for longer paternity leave as 'the mother and child are especially dependent on the father in the first month'.
But his wife, Felicia, 29, who expects their first child next month, said they are grateful for whatever goodies the Government dishes out.
'Baby incentives are nice to have. But to us, the biggest bonus we are getting this year is the child,' said the civil servant.
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Pro-family perks at a glance
Maternity leave to be extended from eight to 12 weeks, and to the fourth child.
Lower maid levy for families with children below 12 years.
Baby bonus scheme to be extended to the first and fourth child. Currently, this applies only to the second and third child.
Centre-based infant-care subsidy, similar to the existing childcare subsidy, but higher - $400 a month. Now, working mothers get a $150 subsidy and non-working mothers, $75.
All working parents with children aged below seven to get two days' childcare leave per year. This can be used not only when the children fall ill, but also for other purposes. Currently, civil servants get five days' unrecorded full-pay leave a year to look after a sick child aged below 12.
Incentives for families living with grandparents
Enhanced tax breaks
Five-day work week in civil service
Equal medical benefits for male and female civil servants * Note: Full details of these measures will be unveiled on Wednesday by Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang, who heads a steering committee formed to craft pro-baby measures.
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Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.
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