SINGAPORE’S POPULATION

POLICY

CHAPTER 2 GOVERNANCE IN S’PORE

Key Demographic Indicators1. Refer to the handout “Key Demographic

Indicators, 1970-2008”

2. Write down at least two observations you can make about Singapore’s population make up from the statistics

3. State two inferences about Singapore from your above observations

Sg’s Population Policies

Two periods: 1966-1981

Controlling population growth 1981-now

Encouraging population growthMeeting the challenges of an ageing

population

Controlling pop. Growth 1966-81 Post-war ‘baby boom’ Posed many problems Three five-year plans from 1966-1981 ‘Stop at two’ policy Pg. 44 Fig 2.33 Measures to encourage

smaller families

‘Stop at Two’ poster from the 1970s

Encouraging Pop. Growth 1980s-now Declining birth rates from 1980s Fertility rate in 1980: 1.82 children per

woman 2008: 1.28 Family planning policy worked What potential problems could this give

rise to?

Potential Problems Unattractive to MNCs Ageing population Defence

Measures to promote population growth Graduate Mothers Scheme Have Three or More If You Can Afford It Pro-family Measures Attracting Foreign Talent

Graduate Mothers Scheme 1984 To arrest trend of the well-educated

having fewer children PM Lee felt that female graduates

should have more children Sparked off debate and unhappiness Withdrawn in 1985

Have Three or More If You Can Afford It Introduced in 1987 Allowed the use of Medisave to pay for

delivery charges of the first three children

Encourage people to have more babies if they could afford it through publicity campaigns

Limited success Birth rate continues to decline

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Fertility rate of women in developed countries

Other Pro-family Measures New marriage and parenthood

measures announced in 2004 To address concerns of high cost of

raising children and lack of suitable childcare arrangements

Equalized medical benefits Grandparent caregiver relief 5-day work week for Civil Svc Extended maternity leave

Attracting Foreign Talent To enhance competitiveness Relaxed immigration policy in 1989 To attract talent with skills that

Singapore required Easier entry Subsidized housing Attractive education package Hoped that some of these will take up

PR or citizenship

Preparing for an Aging Population

Impact of Ageing Population

Meeting the Challenges

Senior citizens as assets to society ‘Many Helping Hands’ approach

Individual responsibilityFamily supportCommunity helpGovt support

1. Senior citizens as assets To ensure that senior citizens remain

contributing to society Valuable skills, knowledge, talent and

work experience Encourage more opportunities for them

to add value to organisations (as advisors or mentors) and help boost family life (taking care of grandchildren)

2. ‘Many Helping Hands’Government

support

Community help

Family support

Individual responsibility

2a. Individual responsibility Healthy lifestyle—watching diet,

exercising regularly Financial planning—to plan for

retirement To help senior citizens be independent

and have good quality of life in old age Reduces family and govt burden

2b. Family support

Strong and stable family is main source of emotional, social and financial support

Govt introduced measures to strengthen family bonds

E.g. Senior Citizen’ Week, Grandparents’ Day

2c. Community help Community can provide social and emotional

support Provide healthcare and social services Govt provides subsidies to voluntary welfare

organisations (VWOs) E.g. Home Nursing Foundation for Elders Some offer free healthchecks, recreational

activities for elderly These services are meant to help them remain

active

2d. Government support

Made laws and introduced measures to protect interests of senior citizens

E.g.Tribunal for the Maintenance of ParentsTax ReliefCentral Provident FundPublic housing schemes

To encourage people to save up for old age, and children to take care of their aging parents

Measures to promote population growth1. Graduate

Mothers Scheme

2. Have Three or More If You Can Afford It

3. Pro-family Measures

4. Attracting Foreign Talent

1. Senior citizens as assets to society

2. ‘Many Helping Hands’ approach

a) Individual responsibility

b) Family support

c) Community help

d) Govt support

Meeting the ChallengesOf an Aging Pop.