NESDB urges childbirth incentives

NESDB urges childbirth incentives

Labour force projected to decrease

Parents help their babies crawl during a recent contest. The NESDB noted the difficulty certain Asian countries have had in trying to increase their fertility rates. (Photo by Pattarapong hatpattarasill)
Parents help their babies crawl during a recent contest. The NESDB noted the difficulty certain Asian countries have had in trying to increase their fertility rates. (Photo by Pattarapong hatpattarasill)

The state planning unit, the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), has proposed the government come up with additional measures to increase the fertility rate in the country, in part to refill the labour force.

A NESDB report noted Thailand has become an ageing society, with the number of elderly people increasing, while children and the working-age population is decreasing, which will affect the long-term development of the country.

Fertility has declined in Thailand to one of the five lowest rates in Asia, and is expected to droop to 1.3% by 2040. Because of socioeconomic changes affecting the values and attitudes of families, young people are choosing to live alone or postpone marriage and childbirth, especially in Generation Y (those born from 1980-2000).

This generation is the majority of the reproductive-age population, the report said.

In the past, the government and related agencies have promoted measures that improved quality of life, including a tax deduction for child support, prenatal care costs, and childbirth costs; a subsidy for raising children until they are three years old (child support grant) of 600 baht per child per month; improving child development centres; encouraging companies to set up childcare centres; offering the right to leave work to give birth; and working to prevent teenage pregnancy.

"Increasing the population is quite difficult because the decision is a personal one. State incentives are often insufficient to motivate people to have a baby. This situation is similar to other countries," said Chutinart Wongsuban, deputy secretary-general of the NESDB.

"The policy should be focused on improving the quality of life for parents."

The NESDB proposed the government raise awareness about the value of having children and the joys of having a family, educating about family planning and life plans so people have children at the right time.

The focus should be the quality of children's development, creating an environment that is suitable for raising kids, such as the promotion of gender equality in child-rearing and family care, said the agency.

Women who have children need to know their careers will not be stunted, and the government needs to reduce costs and provide benefits to families with children, supporting quality childcare through financial aid, with conditions linked to the development of the quality of the child, said the NESDB.

The government should provide housing privileges by supporting low-interest loans for families with children; establish funds to help with family care; standardise quality education services to prepare a workforce that can adapt to technological change; and provide subsidies and financial assistance to poor families with children, said the agency.

The NESDB said Thailand's workforce totalled 38.1 million in 2017, down from 38.3 million in 2016. It forecasts the figure to drop to 36-37 million by 2036.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (7)