THE Government has been trying to increase the fertility rate since 1984 using the working mother's child relief (WMCR) scheme, with enhancements, but it has not been working well, considering that the fertility rate has dropped from 1.62 in 1984 to 1.25 last year.
The scheme leaves capable career women facing a paradox: Women who want to have children because of the incentive may not feel like good mothers, but for women who already want children, the scheme does not really encourage them to do so.
It would be sad if mothers see their children as just economic numbers.
Thus, I hope that the Government would review this relief scheme to make it more family-centric.
One suggestion could be for the Government to allow fathers to claim a working parent's child relief (WPCR), with a lower quantum if the mother decides to quit her job or work part time to look after the children.
This would reduce the financial impact to families when the children are born and the mother decides to quit her job.
This WPCR somehow does not result in a paradox for men, perhaps because society still prefers men to be the providers.
If the fertility rate does not go up, it is a given that there would be more immigrants on the way.
If the WMCR scheme is not working as intended, it is necessary to start changing direction before it is too late.
Ivan Goh
The scheme leaves capable career women facing a paradox: Women who want to have children because of the incentive may not feel like good mothers, but for women who already want children, the scheme does not really encourage them to do so.
It would be sad if mothers see their children as just economic numbers.
Thus, I hope that the Government would review this relief scheme to make it more family-centric.
One suggestion could be for the Government to allow fathers to claim a working parent's child relief (WPCR), with a lower quantum if the mother decides to quit her job or work part time to look after the children.
This would reduce the financial impact to families when the children are born and the mother decides to quit her job.
This WPCR somehow does not result in a paradox for men, perhaps because society still prefers men to be the providers.
If the fertility rate does not go up, it is a given that there would be more immigrants on the way.
If the WMCR scheme is not working as intended, it is necessary to start changing direction before it is too late.
Ivan Goh
