Singapore is offering a one-off payment to encourage people to have babies. It is in addition to the several hefty baby bonuses already offered by the government. Singapore's current baby bonus system provides eligible parents up to S$10,000 ($7,330, £5,644) in benefits.
The worry is that citizens are putting off parenthood as they struggle with financial stress and job layoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic. Singapore has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, which it has struggled to boost for decades. Singapore's fertility rate touched an eight-year low in 2018, according to government data, at a rate of 1.14 births per woman.
Many Asian countries face a similar issue of falling fertility rates, which could worsen during the pandemic downturn.
Earlier this year, China's birth rate fell to its lowest since the formation of the People's Republic of China 70 years ago. This came despite the easing of the its one-child policy.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54429706
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