SINGAPORE: About 600 more babies were born last year.

Preliminary birth figures from the birth registry at Immigration and Checkpoints Authority put the number of babies born in 2006 at 38,232.

But a sociologist said the marginal increase in newborns would do little to lift Singapore's total fertility rate from its record low of 1.24 in 2004.

Besides aggressive immigration policies, bolder changes in family policies are needed to help Singapore replace its rapidly ageing and dwindling population.

Even with 600 more babies born in 2006 than the previous year, Singapore's total fertility rate, which has hovered around the all-time low of 1.24 for the last two years, is likely to remain one of the world's lowest.

The Total Fertility Rate is the lowest among Singapore Chinese women, just 1.08 babies per resident female in 2005.

To grow the Singapore population, the government ramped up its foreign talent programme last year to encourage talented people to migrate to Singapore.

Dr Angelique Chan, Sociologist, National University of Singapore, said: "I think dual citizenship is something we should consider in the Singapore context, particularly if we're interested in maintaining the numbers in the Singapore population."

But she added that immigration is only a short-term solution. And in the long run, Singapore needs to look at policies that enable families to grow and policies which help families to better balance work with family life.

Countries like France have shown that family-friendly policies like a 40-week paid maternity leave for the third child, cheap childcare and free nurseries go a long way in reversing falling birth rates.

On top of free public transport, grants, allowances and tax breaks – which increase substantially after the third child – the French government recently raised its special allowance to pay mothers 1,000 euros a month if they give up work that year to have their third child.

French women now have an average of two children each, compared with the European average of 1.5.

Since its introduction in 2001 and enhancement in 2004, Singapore's Baby Bonus scheme has had very modest success.

"I think Singapore has reached a point where it has a lot of economic success and now it has some surplus, and it's time to start thinking about the more human element," said Dr Chan.

So will the Year of the Pig bring on fatter Baby Bonuses?

Singapore couples will not have to wait long to find out as Budget Day, February 15, approaches. - CNA/so