Childbirth incentives to be expanded

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon yesterday promised to step up measures against the falling birthrate, including expanded financial incentives for families with multiple children.

"Existing measures have showed some limitations in tackling the low birthrate issue. The city is considering major changes in its policy," said the mayor at a launching ceremony of the city`s childbirth campaign.

The childbirth subsidy has been given by some district offices for third children.

Oh said the incentives would be provided for second children and subsequent children, and that all households would be eligible.

Related measures, having mainly focused on childbirth and childcare, also will be prepared in consideration of every aspect of family life, from marriage to child education, Oh said.

The mayor also emphasized support for working mothers and reduce people`s apprehensions about having a baby.

The nation`s birthrate, which went below the replacement fertility rate of 2.1 percent for the first time in 1983, dropped to 1.19 last year, the lowest in the world. The city of Seoul had a birthrate of 1.01 percent, second lowest in the country after Busan.

As part of its efforts to boost the low birthrate, the government launched the nationwide childbirth campaign, together with various organizations, civic groups and experts. Following the Seoul launch, the city`s 25 individual districts also plan to organize a committee to promote childbirth.

(jylee@heraldm.com)



By Lee Ji-yoon