Singapore to pay for babies in pandemic

♦ Singapore is to offer a one-off payment to encourage couples to have a baby during the coronavirus pandemic, amid fears that people may delay starting a family because of job layoffs and the shrinking economy.

“We have received feedback that Covid-19 has caused some aspiring parents to postpone their parenthood plans,” Heng Swee Keat, the deputy prime minister, said.

“To help with expenses during this period, we will introduce a one-off additional support for newborns.”

Singapore, which has one of the lowest birthrates in the world, is facing its worst-ever economic crisis because of the pandemic.