Singapore Is Paying Couples To Have Babies Amid This Pandemic
The country's fertility rate is currently 1.14 births per woman.
By Tamara Jayne — 07 Oct 2020, 11:26 AM — Updated about 4 years ago
Singaporeans, it might be time to get busy in bed
On Monday, 5 October, the country's government announced that it will be handing out one-off cash payments to prospective parents.
As one of the countries with the lowest birth rates in the world, this move is to help couples with initial baby expenses, especially during these uncertain times
"We have received feedback that COVID-19 has caused some aspiring parents to postpone their parenthood plans," Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said, according to CNN.
"This is fully understandable, especially when they face uncertainty with their income."
It has yet to be announced how much couples will receive through this initiative
Currently, aspiring parents receive up to SGD10,000 (RM30,541) in benefits through the 'Baby Bonus Cash Gift'.
TODAYonline reported that the 'Baby Bonus Cash Gift' is handed out over the course of 18 months after the child is born.
According to its national statistics body, Singapore's fertility rate is currently 1.14 births per woman.
