(2008/10) Oct 2008


<font color="0000ff">Bearie/BBgoh/Jess/Lynnzee,

No worries, it's nothing much, the least I can do..yes u gals can email that lady apparently they are going to "reason" out things with Mr Lee tis evening at a Meet the MP sessions.

Icylemon,

Think only name/NRIC/EDD??

Diane,

Thanks
happy.gif


Will do so tonite
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I believe it will be a hot topic for tis 2 wks!!



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<font color="0000ff">Revised copy after editing again hahaha..

To Whom It May Concern,

We are a group of Mothers to be (due between Sept to Dec 2008).

Before the announcement at this year National Day Rally, we were full of anticipation of what’s in store for new parents like us.

We can’t help but feel like we are being led for a joy-ride and ended up we were left with nothing but bitterness and many unhappiness. Not that we are expecting our baby because of the "so called" baby bonuses from the government.

As most of us are first time parents to be, naturally we were delighted to hear the hints from Ministers on the improvement in policies to encourage young couples to have children and what was more uplifting was when there are special mentions to be made for fathers to be more pro-active in the child raising process. Alas, it was not meant to be, during the National day rally that none of such were mentioned. No paternity benefits totally? So where are those “so called enhancements? Thrown out of the windows?

Having said that, we were pretty relieved and happy that some new initiatives were mentioned for mums to be. We are sure many expecting mums like us were looking forward to what is in store. However this too turn out to be "FALSE HOPES" for expecting mums who are due to deliver within this few months as the new policies will only kick in from Jan 2009 onwards.

As a matter of fact, we really wonder are we being penalised for heeding the call to have children sooner. As a first time parents, we would have lose out at least $7000 on the baby bonus ($1000 extra cash gift and another $6000 (CDA) dollar to dollar matching).

All the above really make us wonder if Government is really sincere in all their talk and whether do they really walk their talk than just being NATO.

If measures are to be taken to track if the policies are effective, and if the campaign is working, the implementation date should be Apr/May 09 or even in the new budget year instead of Jan 2009. By imposing such a “date”, it had already incurred the wrath of half the population of Mothers To Be (being due date from Sept – Dec 08) and another half would be those (due date from Jan – Apr 09)

Since the government could set the precedence of back dating the policies in August 2004 and include those who had qualified at the time of the announcement. Why the double standards now??

In the Year 2004, it was mentioned that employers might need some time to adjust to the changes (i.e., the government funds the 3rd month of maternity leave) Now, since the fourth month will also be funded by government, why need time for employers to adjust.

The changes we see this time round is that it's merely addition to the existing policies as a "tag-on" not as if it's entirely new policies like back then in Year 2004, so it should be easier to implement it and for employers to effect the change even faster since there was already a precedence set it's merely changing the quantity and not the substance of the matter. Besides, after the PM’s announcement the new package was implemented on 1 Oct 2004. It had allow companies who are willing to backdate to 1 Aug 2004, so we don’t see why such inconsistency is being practice now?? That’s a pretty lousy excuse of MOM to use to say that it's to give time for employers to adjust

We do understand that there’s a need for a cut off date. For parents who have had their first child, you can tell them that they can’t turn back the clock. However, perhaps about 10,000 babies will be delivered from now to 31 December 2008. Don’t tell us that they are not contributing to the Singapore population???

Hence, if the government wants to do something to help parents &amp; then in turn encourage more births, don't leave out a particular percentage of babies. If this is so, why leave out the parents/parents-to-be with babies who are due to be born between now and 31 Dec 2008?

Setting a cut of date on 1 Jan 2009, the message sent out to the general public is that these new incentives are not meant to help parents but meant to bribe Singaporeans to have babies.

We think the government ought to give us a very valid and convincing reason as to why they could not do it this time round. By announcing such new measures so soon and setting the implementation date so late, it will surely leave many parents-to-be shortchanged. Even if there’s a cut off date, at least they should have the decency to announce it at a later date!

This group of parents faces the same burden as those whose babies are due on 1 Jan 2009 and after. This group of parents requires the assistance offered by the new package just as much as the parents whose babies would be born on or after 1 Jan 2009. In addition, these parents are those who headed the call of the government to procreate without the lure of the benefits. Why leave them out now? Most of these babies would be born to ordinary Singaporean parents who also need any assistance they can get in raising their children.

Although as PM Lee says, we do not have children for the sake of the financial benefits, but the financial aid will certainly go a long way to helping us out. Despite the rising inflation cost and the uprising cost of living in Singapore. Women like us are still going ahead to procreate and contribute to the growth rate. By not extending these benefits to us is simply unfair! The implementation date certainly seem to insinuate that people should have babies for the benefit (since we who willingly conceived without knowledge of the upcoming benefits do not qualify for it

Current pregnant working women also require these additional perks to help us. We do not have any help to look after our newborn and thus the additional 4 weeks of maternity helps a great deal. And it definitely helps breastfeeding easier.

The additional baby bonus also helps to lessen our load especially for middle income young couples. So why only babies born in Jan 2009 onwards can benefit?

Such timing of implementation will only caution those who plan for babies to do so only after the National Day Rally in order not to miss out the good deals!! Is this called for?

This is totally senseless!!

We seriously hope that the Government can consider bringing forward the implementation to either 1 Sep 2008 or even earlier to include more parents to be in the scheme then letting them feel being penalized.




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<font color="0000ff">More revised version:

To Whom It May Concern,

We are a group of Mothers to be (due between Sept to Dec 2008).

Before the announcement at this year National Day Rally, we were full of anticipation of what’s in store for new parents like us.

We can’t help but feel like we are being led for a joy-ride and ended up we were left with nothing but bitterness and many unhappiness. Not that we are expecting our baby because of the "so called" baby bonuses from the government.

As most of us are first time parents to be, naturally we were delighted to hear the hints from Ministers on the improvement in policies to encourage young couples to have children and what was more uplifting was when there are special mentions to be made for fathers to be more pro-active in the child raising process. Alas, it was not meant to be, during the National day rally that none of such were mentioned. No paternity benefits totally? So where are those “so called enhancements? Thrown out of the windows?

Having said that, we were pretty relieved and happy that some new initiatives were mentioned for mums to be. We are sure many expecting mums like us were looking forward to what is in store. However this too turn out to be "FALSE HOPES" for expecting mums who are due to deliver within this few months as the new policies will only kick in from Jan 2009 onwards.

As a matter of fact, we really wonder are we being penalised for heeding the call to have children sooner. As a first time parents, we would have lose out at least $7000 on the baby bonus ($1000 extra cash gift and another $6000 (CDA) dollar to dollar matching).

All the above really make us wonder if Government is really sincere in all their talk and whether do they really walk their talk than just being NATO.

If measures are to be taken to track if the policies are effective, and if the campaign is working, the implementation date should be Apr/May 09 or even in the new budget year instead of Jan 2009. By imposing such a “date”, it had already incurred the wrath of half the population of Mothers To Be (being due date from Sept – Dec 08) and another half would be those (due date from Jan – Apr 09)

Since the government could set the precedence of back dating the policies in August 2004 and include those who had qualified at the time of the announcement. Why the double standards now??

In the Year 2004, it was mentioned that employers might need some time to adjust to the changes (i.e., the government funds the 3rd month of maternity leave) Now, since the fourth month will also be funded by government, why need time for employers to adjust.

The changes we see this time round is that it's merely addition to the existing policies as a "tag-on" not as if it's entirely new policies like back then in Year 2004, so it should be easier to implement it and for employers to effect the change even faster since there was already a precedence set it's merely changing the quantity and not the substance of the matter. Besides, after the PM’s announcement the new package was implemented on 1 Oct 2004. It had allow companies who are willing to backdate to 1 Aug 2004, so we don’t see why such inconsistency is being practice now?? That’s a pretty lousy excuse of MOM to use to say that it's to give time for employers to adjust.

If employer finds it difficult to accept the additional 4 wks maternity leave, what about those add on incentives like “childcare leave”, “unpaid infant care leave” etc. If the measure will only come in place 1 Jan 2009, then it will be very unfair for us who actually conceived 2-4 months earlier. Since we are not given the extra 4 weeks extended maternity leave, should we be compensated in other ways? The ironic thing here is only the IVF funding will take effect almost immediately!! We have a few mothers who missed the incentives in 2004 by a couple of months and now they are stuck in the same predicament again! Are they suppose to blame it on bad luck or their child chooses to be born on the wrong timing?

We do understand that there’s a need for a cut off date. For parents who have had their first child, you can tell them that they can’t turn back the clock. However, perhaps about 10,000 babies will be delivered from now to 31 December 2008. Don’t tell us that they are not contributing to the Singapore population???

Hence, if the government wants to do something to help parents &amp; then in turn encourage more births, don't leave out a particular percentage of babies. If this is so, why leave out the parents/parents-to-be with babies who are due to be born between now and 31 Dec 2008?

Setting a cut of date on 1 Jan 2009, the message sent out to the general public is that these new incentives are not meant to help parents but meant to bribe Singaporeans to have babies.

We think the government ought to give us a very valid and convincing reason as to why they could not do it this time round. By announcing such new measures so soon and setting the implementation date so late, it will surely leave many parents-to-be shortchanged. Even if there’s a cut off date, at least they should have the decency to announce it at a later date!

This group of parents faces the same burden as those whose babies are due on 1 Jan 2009 and after. This group of parents requires the assistance offered by the new package just as much as the parents whose babies would be born on or after 1 Jan 2009. In addition, these parents are those who headed the call of the government to procreate without the lure of the benefits. Why leave them out now? Most of these babies would be born to ordinary Singaporean parents who also need any assistance they can get in raising their children.

Although as PM Lee says, we do not have children for the sake of the financial benefits, but the financial aid will certainly go a long way to helping us out. Despite the rising inflation cost and the uprising cost of living in Singapore. Women like us are still going ahead to procreate and contribute to the growth rate. By not extending these benefits to us is simply unfair! The implementation date certainly seem to insinuate that people should have babies for the benefit (since we who willingly conceived without knowledge of the upcoming benefits do not qualify for it

Current pregnant working women also require these additional perks to help us. We do not have any help to look after our newborn and thus the additional 4 weeks of maternity helps a great deal. And it definitely helps breastfeeding easier.

The additional baby bonus also helps to lessen our load especially for middle income young couples. So why only babies born in Jan 2009 onwards can benefit?

Such timing of implementation will only caution those who plan for babies to do so only after the National Day Rally in order not to miss out the good deals!! Is this called for?

This is totally senseless!!

We seriously hope that the Government can consider bringing forward the implementation to either 1 Sep 2008 or even earlier to include more parents to be in the scheme then letting them feel being penalized.



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forest,
so, we email the letter done by littlebluey to phylicia? or littlebluey will email on behalf for all of us here?
 
Hi Mummies,

I've PM phyl my details le. So angry and fuming abt the released news.

Juz me!!
I haven pop lah. Was busy ah.

Mummies,
Juz came back from gynea. baby weighing 1.8kg at 34weeks. My gynea had a new machine and can see my bb's features very clear. But dun tink its the same machine as the detailed scan. BB claudia has got beautiful lips. So kissable.

So far my weight gain is 500g for the past 2 weeks.

Forest:
U there? I've send an email to u
happy.gif
 
hi Littlebluey - would like a little comment on IVF part.

I am an IVF mummy, so i know the govt needing to implement this fast - Sept 08 so that pple who wants to do it can do it fast (becos a few mths really affect the fertility for some). But to b honest the IVF benefits given is not great at all.. trust me alot of my frens doing IVF at private hospitals are not going to benefit it and those mummies who have frozen eggs waiting for them (either for 1 child or subsequent children) are also not benefiting it.
 
Our government really stingy! Implement revised ERP charges super fast....now money rolling in everyday like nobody's business. Then this kind of "give money" thingy have to drag until so late.....

Why don't push revised ERP charges to Jan'09 also?
 
lili,
yes, just send to Phylicia... she is going down to the AMK Meet the People's session tonight, with the letter from Littlebluey, plus the list of petitioners...
 
RibenaLi,
great to hear that your baby is doing great!! hehehe... kissable lips!!! how *tempting*!! kekekek... ur gynae so good.. got a new machine.. mine usually cant see v clearly.. hahahaa.. :p

u sent me email ah.. ok, i'll check and reply u tonight k!!
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ribenali

glad to hear u rbb is fine.Today's topic is on the maternity package ah...the threads are moving pretty fast!

waner have lunchie tmrw..? forest u waner have lucnchie too?
 
forest:
That's wat Doc says. *kissable lips* hahah!! Sure, will wait for ur mail b4 i place order tonite.

littlebluey;
She cannot b too pretty lah. Later too many guys go after her, i faint ah. hahaha!!!
 
Littlebluey,

I have posted in the Reach website and PM you my details as well
happy.gif


kindly include me in the petition or emails that you sent out to the relevant agencies.

Thanks!
happy.gif
 
<font color="0000ff">I sent my DH the petition thread and he said "Wah, all the mummies to be super effective"

Then I told him, women are not to be trifled with and he replied "Ya, esp preggies" lolx ;p

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littlebluey, where to add? I'm so excited on this issue yet so busy at work and not able to get updates until now. After reading the info, I was so upset!
 
Diane:
Tmr i cant coz need to send my fatty car for servicing coz that day they got no slot for me. Due for service for quite so time le.

Yah, today's thread is really running fast. Lets show the Government our Mummies' power. Hopefully we can get wat we deserved!!
 
littlebluey:
My hubby say that he want to go clubbing with Claudia in future. To protect her. hahaha!! i told him if my dad were to go clubbing with me,i would feel very paiseh one. But he still insist to go.haizz. then i say i oso want to go. Guess wat? he said," u better stay at home, dun go out at nite to scare pple...."
 
littlebluey
Hope I'm not too late, was out the whole day...
I already send you my details.
Thanks for writing.. wonderfully written
 

littlebluey
Wow, well done! I'm in total support of sending that mail! But just a little grammar, if you don't mind. For the last para, it should be 'than' instead of 'then' right?
 

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