[Pei ling] To what extent is Singapore a family-friendly society?

Singapore is a family-friendly society as the government actively encourages the early setting up of families and couples to give birth to more children. In light of such attitudes, the Third Child Priority Scheme and Conversion Scheme are among the many which families can benefit from. The Third Child Priority Scheme gave priority to families with a third or fourth child in obtaining a bigger apartment, and the Conversion Scheme allowed big families to buy an adjoining apartment to convert into a single larger unit. The most recent policy changes also include that young couples buying an apartment can now pay the down-payment in two stages. Also, the government has implemented a CPF family housing grant of $30,000, to help out couples from the start. With the recent policy ch angedimplemented, couples have more incentives to start a family on their own as the apartment now is much more affordable. Existing family also now can expand their family with no worries as they can all stay together because of the Third Child Priority Scheme. The Conversion Scheme promotes close knit family bonding as all the three generations of a family can stay together under one roof.

However, all these housing schemes is only useful in the short run. Having more children is expensive in the long run, especially when all the education costs kick in. Tax benefits or monetary assistance will a better family-friendly policy as it helps the family more in the long run. For example, in 2010, Australia introduced a Family Tax Benefit Scheme which helps family with the cost of raising children. The amount of Family Tax Benefit a family gets paid depends on the number and ages of the children. The amount of money a family gets paid reduces as the child grows older. This scheme is much more beneficial to families considering to have more children. Singapore is trying to be family friendly but not family friendly enough.