Experts share views on Swedish procreation model
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 11 July 2008 1936 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew recently commented that Singapore is looking at Swedish family policies to improve the birth rate in the Republic.

Sweden's Ambassador to Singapore, Par Ahlberger, said that childcare in his country is kept affordable though it is not free.

Sweden is also the first country in the world to introduce paternal leave, back in 1974.

"A Swedish family can take 480 days of parental leave for the first child, and that is a lot. Out of these, some 60 days are earmarked for the father and he has to take them," said Mr Ahlberger.

The Swedish workplace also offers family-friendly policies.

"One concept in Sweden which has helped the workforce spend more time with their children and family is called flexi-time. This is where the workers are able to negotiate their working hours with their employers so that more time can be set aside for the family," said the ambassador.

"When I was posted to Stockholm, I took parental leave and I made a deal with the Minister for Trade that I would leave the office at 3 o'clock every day to pick up my kids from the kindergarten," he added.

But all these measures come at a cost.

Associate Professor Paulin Straughan, a sociologist, said: "The Swedish way is very expensive because at the end of the day, personally, I wouldn't want to see my taxes go up to support this. The Swedish model will be important for those who are planning to get married and have kids.

"It will certainly be welcomed by a large segment of those who are in the process of making important decisions and they are likely to welcome this and have more children."

But younger Singaporeans face other contesting issues.

"They also articulate that if you want to start a family, if you want to marry and have children, you have to first be financially secure," said
Associate Professor Straughan.

Some experts say much will depend on mindsets at home and at the workplace.

Women feel that husbands must accept that investment in nurturing children is just as important as investing in their careers, said sociologists.

With the hint that the government is reviewing its procreation policies, some Singaporeans are hoping for more pro-baby incentives.

In 2004, a comprehensive pro-family package included the baby bonus and new paternal leave for fathers.

Sharon Tan, a mother, said: "Infrastructure-wise, we need a lot more support for childcare to induce people who are working to have more kids, because I think it's quite difficult when you have to rely on maids and relatives."

"Kindergartens... because most of them are privately run. I just feel that maybe, yes, it would help if there are more subsidies," said Penny Lim, another mother. - CNA/ir