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24 Aug 2000 The Straits Times

"My research, based on Canadian data, shows that female rate rate and aspiration levels have a very strong negative influence on family size. On the other hand, the incomes of young males have a positive effect on family size. In general, an increase in family income through non-labour income of a wife is likely to have a positive influence on family size." TILAK ABEYSINGHE

"I would like to suggest that the Government extend the "baby-bonus" scheme to all babies (who are the second and third child) born after 1997, the year the financial crisis began. This will help and encourage the couples who bucked the fertility trends during that trying period." JANE CHUA

23 Aug 2000 The Straits Times

"Couples who are going through reproduction treatment programmes such as in-vitro fertilisation are burdened by the high cost. And there is a limit as to how much can be withdrawn from the Central provident Fund. The current one-time deduction from CPF is only S$2,000 and those undergoing treatment have to bear the remaining cost, which is between S$8,000 and S$10,000.

"Couples like us with limited financial means would be very grateful if we could pay for the whole treatment through CPF or if it could be substantially subsidised." TAN BEE YAN

"But homemakers are an ignored lot. The Government has little to tell them beyond asking them to go back to work. Society at large thinks we are "wasting our education".

"More significantly, there was no mention of any rewards for such mothers in the PM's address. Full-time mothers are on the job 24 hours a day, even when they are ill. The only time in the past six years that I defaulted on my duties as a mother was when I was hospitalised with food poisoning.

"Personally, the cash incentives do not move me. I would prefer in their stead free quality pre-school education and free medical treatment for children up to the age of seven. And considering the fact that one in four children in Singapore is myopic and one in five asthmatic, free prescription glasses for life and free asthma medication up to the age of 12 seem more logical incentives than a deposit of S$500 with strings attached." LIVIA CHUA YIAN HWEE

22 Aug 2000 The Straits Times

"I am a graduate mother working as a manager in a multinational company. I am 31 years old with a baby girl and I have been deliberating having a second child. My experience with my first child has left me feeling that the working environment of the private sector here is not conducive and does not encourage women to have more babies.

"I have three suggestions which I believe will encourage professional working women like myself to go forth and multiply. These are:

*Extended maternity leave: ... The idea is to allow working mothers to extend their maternity leave by up to six months

*Flexi-hours or working from home: ... Babies grow up to be responsible adults only when either parent is able to spend quality time nurturing them ... If working mothers can work flexi-hours or work from home, they can balance the time spent a work and with their children

*Accommodate nursing mothers: ... Companies can do more, for example, by providing pumping rooms and showing concern to nursing mothers.... This support system is important to me because I want to be able to nurse my baby for as long as I can." EVELYN CHEN

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