Singapore recently announced that it would be offering incentives to citizens willing to have babies during the pandemic. The tiny island city-state is offering a one-time USD 2,198 grant to help families bear child-raising costs, for a child born between October 1, 2020, and September 30, 2022. This would be on top of an existing $7,330 bonus that couples receive when they have a baby in Singapore. This move comes at a time when many Singaporeans have put their baby plans on hold due to the pandemic. A survey suggested that three people out of 10 were not keen on having babies – major reasons being uncertainty over financial stability and safety concerns due to the virus. Fertility rates have been falling rapidly in Singapore, which is already on the verge of a demographic time bomb.
