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PopuIation PIan for Singapore:
Pausing the Growth in Foreign Workforce &
Improving FertiIity Rate

By
NationaI SoIidarity Party
Bryan Long
HazeI Poa
Ravi PhiIemon
Tony Tan



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Executive Summary

1 This Paper seeks to:

i. Point out that population density adversely affects fertility rate. Looking at the data
both internationally and domestically, we can see that when population density
increases, fertility decreases. This is supported by independent research in Austria.
ncreasing our population to 6.9 million by 2030 is therefore likely to further depress
our fertility rate, creating a vicious cycle. We need to focus on improving our fertility
rate if we want to continue growing our economy with minimal social problems.

ii. Point out that the declining old age support ratio (OASR) in 2030 does not justify
bringing in new citizens now. Firstly, economic support of the aged is shared by the
whole labour force including citizens and non-citizens. Granting citizenship is not
necessary. Secondly, if the low old age support ratio is a concern, then the foreign
labour force should only be increased when OASR (calculated using the whole
labour force, not just citizens) falls too low, not now, when our OASR is very high by
international standards. n fact, bringing in adult new citizens now further add to the
size of our aged population beyond 2030.

iii. Conclude that low fertility rate and declining OASR are not the reasons for the
liberal immigration and population growth plan.

iv. Point out that our foreign labour policies is depressing the wages of lower skilled
Singaporeans and driving up income inequality


2 NSP proposes to:
i. Focus on improving fertility rate by addressing families' needs on housing,
education and cost of living:

HDB:

(a) HDB housing for joint selection by first timers and parents, i.e. young couples
and their parents select their flats together so that they can choose separate
units close to each other (e.g. within the same block but at different levels), for
easier child care arrangements and future eldercare arrangements.

(b) Remove resale levy for parents to move near their child

(c) Stop shrinking HDB flats

(d) Free upgrade to larger flats (upgrade by one room, max 5 room flat) with 3 or
more children

Education

(e) Primary 1 registration priority for children in families with 2 or more children

(f) Further subsidies for tertiary education: 2
nd
child to enrol in local tertiary
education institutions pay half the fees, 3
rd
and subsequent child free

(g) Abolish PSLE to reduce stress, and the need to pay for supplementary classes
for parents who can ill afford them
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Others
(h) Free delivery and hospitalisation for 3
rd
and subsequent child

(i) All benefits for children to similarly apply to single parents, not for economic
reasons, but because we empathise and we care

ii. Focus more on wage growth and overall quality of life rather than immediate
economic growth:

(a) New citizens limited to under 10,000 per year

(b) Pause the growth in foreign workforce until productivity grows at more than 1.5%
and public infrastructure has been expanded

(c) Uniform quota of 33% for S Pass and E Pass

(d) Higher Development Expenditure for Densely Populated Singapore

3 PAP's population plan places at its core immediate economic growth. t continues to
believe that economic growth, however derived, will lead to better lives for the people. Their
proposal is a continuation of current policies, but with added promises that infrastructure will be
built up quickly to accommodate the larger population, one that grows at about 94,000 per year on
average.

4 The trade-off will therefore continue to be the same: higher population density,
overcrowded public spaces and infrastructure (which may be relieved if the government can keep
to its development plans and schedule), unequal distribution of income, limited resources being
shared by more people, higher asset prices, higher COE, and higher cost of living.

5 Contrary to its claim, there is no sustainability in this plan. Even if we accept the PAP's
assurance that growing the population to 6.9m by 2030 will bring about greater prosperity for many
Singaporeans, what happens after 2030? Grow the population some more?

6 Over the longer term, seeking productivity growth is still what we will have to come back to.
We need to stop kicking the can further down the road.

7 NSP would like to offer Singaporeans an alternative plan, one which is more sustainable,
focusing more on wage growth and overall quality of life rather than immediate economic growth.
We therefore propose to pause the relentless rapid growth in population, give time for
Singaporeans to raise their fertility rate, a chance for lower income Singaporeans to level up their
wages, and create the necessity for companies to innovate and to raise productivity, ultimately
lifting everybody's wages over the longer term.