Governance: Revision Check-list
Principle [clickable]
Leadership is key
Reward for work, work for reward
A stake for everyone, Opportunity
Anticipating change and staying relevant
Traffic Flow
Vehicle Quota System
Electronic Road Pricing
Area Licensing Scheme
Park and Ride
Reasons to promote population growth
Declining birth rate
Unattractive to multinational companies
Ageing Population
Defence
Solution to promote population growth
The Graduate mothers scheme
Three or more if you can afford it
Pro-families measure
Attracting foreign talent
Ageing population
Individual responsibility
Family responsibility
Government responsibility
Community responsibility
Reasons to promote population growth
Declining Birth Rate from 1980s
By 1980s, the fertility rate hit 1.82 children per women.
This showed that the family planning policy worked.
Other factors such as increasing costs of living and people marrying later
also contributed to the declining birth rate
However, during this period, there were more jobs created in the industries
and a larger workforce is needed to sustain the nation's development.
With the number of babied born falling below replacement value,
there was a need to re-examine the policy because of the potential problems a small popular would pose.
Unattractive to multinational companies
With a smaller population, Singapore would not be able to produce enough talented people to sustain its development.
Multinational corporations [MNCs] would find it difficult and perhaps more expensive to recruit Singaporeans
compared to the huge labour market in countries such as china.
Singapore would also be less attractive because of its smaller consumer market
Ageing Population
With fewer babies born each year, there would be fewer young people in the population.
The older people would be proportionately larger.
This means the country would be faced with an ageing population.
More resources would have to be used to take care of the increasing number of senior citizens.
Defence
With a declining birth rate, there would be fewer men to recruit for national service.
This would weaken Singapore's defence force.
Promote Population Growth
The graduate mothers scheme
Based on research, it was felt that the education level of the parents
had a direct impact on the performance of their children in school.
In 1984, The graduate mother scheme was introduced
to encourage marriages among graduates and to encourage graduates to have more children.
The less educated were unhappy as they felt that they would be neglected under the policy.
As a result of the negative public reaction, the scheme was withdrawn after one year of implementation in 1985.
Three or more if you can afford it
Instead of discouraging large families,
parents were encouraged to have three children or more if they could afford.
As much as there was a need to raise the birth rate,
the government adopted a cautious approach
and wanted Singaporeans to have more children only if they can afford it.
This is because, if too many babies were born during the period, esp during recession,
serious social problems might arise as families might not be able to cope financially.
To help relieve the financial burden of having children,
the government introduced measures such as
allowing the use of medisave to pay for the delivery charges of the first three children.
However, there were people who felt the assistance was not enough to promote population growth.
Despite the publicity campaigns on the joy of parenthood.
Many married couples continue to have one or two children
A sizeable number of Singaporeans continue to marry at a later age or remain unmarried.
Pro-families Measure
The government came up with measures to encourage population growth
For example, Equalised medical benefits,grandparents caregiver relief, 5-day work week for the civil service and extended maternity leave
Previously, only fathers could make medical claims for their children from their employers.
now mothers could also make medical claims from their employers.
Income tax relief of $3000 is given if grandparents is helping the couple take care of their child.
5-day work week is given to civil servant to allow a better work-life balance.
Parent can use this time to spend time with kids.
Mothers now have12 week of rest after giving birth, it used to be 8 weeks.
Attracting Foreign talent
While Singaporeans waits for its pro-families measures to show positive results,
There is a need to enhance its competitiveness by brining in talent from other countries
In 1989, the government relaxed the immigration policy to attract foreign talent.
Easier entry into Singapore, subsidised housing and
an attractive education package for children were offered to foreign talent who were willing to work in Singapore.
The government hoped that some of these individual would develop an attachment to the nation
and take up permanent residence or citizenship
Preparing For an ageing population
Many helping hand scheme
Everyone has a part to play in helping the nation prepare for an ageing population.
The individual, family, community and the government.
Individual Responsibility
Individuals are encouraged to have a healthy lifestyle by watching his diet and exercising regularly
Financial planing are encouraged to be planned early
and by financially prepared for life in their old age.
Family Support
Strong and stable families bring about social stability and harmony
Family is the main source of emotional, social and financial support.
Senior citizen week is held annually in November to encourage elderly to stay active in the family and community
It also promotes a positive attitude towards ageing and the aged
and reminds everyone of their roles in creating an environment that is socially conducive
Grandparents day is celebrated in November.
It brings families together to show their appreciation for elderly
Community help
Play an important role in enhancing the well-being of senior citizen
gives emotional and social support to the senior citizen
Provides healthcare and social service
Government provides subsidises to voluntary welfare organisation
such organisation involve member of the community
for example, housewife, students and retires to help look after the needs of senior citizens.
These organisation offer free health checks and organise recreation activities for senior
to help senior citizens remain physically,mentally and socially active.
Government Support
Parents could get help from the court for financial support if
the children are capable to support them but are not doing so and
parents must be incapable of supporting themselves financially and
are over the age of 60
First-time buyers of government flats can get a housing grant if
they buy a flat in the area where their parent live.
Taxpayers can claim an income tax deduction for
Taking care of elderly parents, grand-parents,great-grandparents.
or contributing to their own or their elderly dependant’s CPF retirement accounts
or grand-parents taking care of grandchildren or children while both parents were at work.
A central provident funds [CPF] is set up by the government to help senior citizens.
A special account is set up for retirement, emergency and investment purpose.
Money are also used for medical expenses.
An ordinary account is set up too,
CPF members can withdraw their savings on the age of 55 years
A amount of money must be left for retirement
CPF member will receive a monthly sum fro their retirement account when they reach the age of 62
This is to ensure that senior citizens will still have some money for their old age
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