▲ Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (right)
Singapore has rolled out various childcare support measures to boost its birth rate, which dropped to an all-time low last year.
According to Bloomberg and other foreign media outlets on the 24th (local time), Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his National Day Rally speech marking the 61st anniversary of independence the previous day, "Today, families everywhere are facing greater and greater pressure," adding, "We want to make a fundamental shift in how we support families."
Prime Minister Wong announced that Singaporean newborns will receive a direct financial support of approximately 76 million won in total until they turn 17, starting with a 10,000 Singapore dollar "baby bonus"—equivalent to about 10 million won.
He also added that paid parental leave will be significantly expanded, and the monthly fee for government-subsidized full-day childcare facilities will be lowered to about 160,000 won.
Accordingly, working couples will receive separate paid leave of 8 days each for one child, 10 days for two children, and 12 days for three or more children.
Prime Minister Wong also stated that the government is considering extending the current total paid parental leave period of 7 months and 15 days.
However, he explained that the current system will be maintained for the time being to give employers time to adapt.
The Singaporean government also plans to grant priority to couples with children or those expecting a child when accepting applications for public housing.
"We want to help growing families secure a home faster," Prime Minister Wong said, adding that additional housing support measures for families with many children will be reviewed.
Last year, Singapore's total fertility rate hit a record low of 0.87, while the population aged 65 and older accounted for about 20 percent this year, leading to assessments that the country has entered a "super-aged society."
The total fertility rate refers to the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime.
The Singaporean government has formed a working group to review marriage and childcare policies, and plans to inject about 7.6 trillion won in related project expenses for the 2026–2027 fiscal year.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.