A few weeks ago, the Ministry of Public Health launched a programme titled "Life Balance Smart Family" to pair singles and support soon-to-wed couples in childbearing. The policy came after Thailand was found to have the lowest total fertility rate in its history, dropping below 600,000 infant births for the first time last year. This has brought the birth rate down to 1.51, which is far below the World Health Organisation's recommendation of 2.1.
Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha expressed concern because the country is becoming a full-fledged ageing society. He said the falling birth rate is a result of the growing number of single adults and couples who decide to postpone or eschew marriage completely. Meanwhile, others who tie the knot late suffer from infertility.
For me, the programme doesn't hit the mark because it fails to address economic and political factors. Couples of reproductive age aren't having children because they feel insecure due to the lack of a support system.
First, couples should have stable jobs to ensure good-quality child-rearing ability but the coronavirus outbreak has thrown workers into chaos with massive unemployment and furloughs. In January, the World Bank said the pandemic forced about 1.5 million Thais into poverty. The number of poor people was expected to increase from 3.7 million in 2019 to 5.2 million in 2020, however, it is expected to drop to 5 million this year because of job recovery.
Who will shoulder extra financial burdens amid economic upheaval unless they have financial stability? Tax reduction for those who have legitimate children is nothing but a piecemeal effort because huge costs are required for child-raising. Besides pregnancy and delivery, tuition fees for 20 years (kindergarten to bachelor's degree) are estimated at 240,000 baht to 15 million baht, depending on the type and quality of schools. This harks back to the population control programme's slogan in 1972. At the time, the government came up with the catchphrase "the more children, the greater the poverty" to reduce the fertility rate from nearly 3 to 2.
Moreover, couples are struggling to care for their elderly parents. Thailand is now a fully-fledged ageing society, with the number of aged people comprising a total of 13.1 million or 20% of the population. Filial piety is a key value in Thai society. My mother gives shelter and part of her salary to my grandmother. I don't go against fulfilling one's sense of filial duty but it should take into account the government's role in supporting grey citizens.
Apart from saving plans, the government's welfare programme pays a monthly living allowance ranging from 600-1,000 baht, depending on age. In January, the House committee on state welfare said it would submit a draft law to change this into pension payment above the poverty line of 2,763 baht per month. However, I think this doesn't ease the financial burdens on breadwinners who are moving to find better job opportunities in Bangkok where the cost of living is high. In this scenario, who will dare to have children when they can't even stand on their own feet and support their parents?
Another fundamental question is what kind of society do we want our children to live in? Thailand is under the guise of democracy. It has long been embroiled in political turmoil. Since the Siamese Revolution of 1932, we have seen more than 20 coups (one every four years). In 2014, the military took power from the civilian government on the pretext of bringing unity and stamping out corruption. Seven years have passed by but we haven't gone anywhere. For me, this stunts the growth of democracy which is meant to uphold equality and freedom. It is the political process where we have to learn to come together. Through elections, people can give power to their representatives or withdraw support when they don't fare well. It is the rule of thumb where we can make our voice heard. I don't want the younger generation to grow up in this suppressive environment. By having a democratically elected government, our children can benefit from well-crafted policies and dream of a better world.
In my opinion, the government should instil hope into our children from the moment of birth. In Finland, the government has long handed out Kela maternity packages to families with newborns. These boxes carry baby clothes, soap, napkins and books. This is the symbol of the country's welfare system because every child will get this box no matter what.
Meanwhile, our child welfare programme is not inclusive. Children from birth to six years of age are normally entitled to a 600 baht monthly living stipend to ensure their proper development. However, child protection advocates have called for expanding its programme to include all 4.2 million young children nationwide. The government also should increase existing incentives for couples, like paid maternity and paternity leave, childcare centres, and family funds. Otherwise, babies will only open their eyes to see Pandora's box.
Thana Boonlert is a feature writer for the Life section of the Bangkok Post.