Thailand Ranks 20th in Global Parenthood Support Index

[webfact]

FILE photo courtesy: Freepik

 

Thailand currently finds itself grappling with a "population structure crisis" as it transitions into a super-aged society with declining birth rates.

 

In response, the government has implemented the Population Development Plan (2022–2037), which underscores the importance of family-friendly policies.

 

The aim is to foster quality family environments and establish support systems that make childbirth and child-rearing more feasible.

 

The plan outlines strategies to enhance the quality of life across all age groups, focusing particularly on encouraging "good births" through family-centric policies. It addresses the need for support across four key areas: time, financial resources, child-rearing support, and effective legal frameworks.

 

Various initiatives have been launched to encourage childbirth, including a child support subsidy of 600 baht per month for children aged 0-6 in low-income families, extending maternity leave to 98 days, offering childbirth benefits via the Social Security Fund, and providing tax incentives for establishing childcare facilities.

The private sector, too, has introduced family-friendly workplace practices such as extending maternity leave to six months, allowing flexible working hours for parents, and offering financial assistance for family-related expenses.

 

In a policy dialogue hosted by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) alongside ThaiHealth and other partners, NESDC deputy secretary-general Worawan Plikhamin highlighted Thailand’s low score in the "Women, Business, and the Law 2020" report.

 

With just 20 out of 100 points in the parenthood category, the score reflects Thailand's current struggle with creating a supportive environment for parents.

 

Natthaya Boonpakdee, director of the Child, Youth, and Family Well-being Support Office at ThaiHealth, emphasised the necessity for workplace policies that address household debt, a significant barrier to family stability and the decision to have children.

 

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 survey indicates that household debt in Thailand averages 606,378 baht, a rise of 47,000 baht from 2023, driven by insufficient income, rising living costs, and increasing family financial burdens, reported The Nation.

 

-- 2024-11-21

 

 

[ikke1959]

How can you bring up kids with no money and only debts? how about the love you got when their kids themselves?? Parents are mostly dumping their kids with family or send them to school for a whole day and weekend, so that is a nice life they can look on back when they grew up..

[JimboJ]

Every Thai woman I have talked to claims to have children without any support from the father.  Admittedly they are not a random sample, and perhaps they are lying.  Perhaps their well paid husbands send them out to make a bit extra from farangs.  But there does seem to be a problem, which is not mentioned in the above report.

[ModdaPunk]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

"good births"

 

What the hell does that even mean ?

Btw this kind of policies has worked exactly nowhere in the world.

[RichardColeman]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Various initiatives have been launched to encourage childbirth, including a child support subsidy of 600 baht per month for children aged 0-6 in low-income families

Yeah, like £13 a month will go far

[john donson]

dumping a kid with grandparents... we read the abuses what that brings here regularly

[Mason45]

I know first hand how Thai's in general move kids on but keep on having more. My wife was one of those kids, she was one of 10 and her father never had a paid job in his entire life. It's a regular occurrence up north but it rarely happens with Thai Chinese who are better educated and have money to support their families, especially when it comes to the kids education.

[kingstonkid]

600 baht per month for children aged 0-6 in low-income families, 

 

Just think it is at 6 that the parents have to shellout all the money to the schools.

 

There are a lot of guys that simply get the joy and when they find out they move away.

 

The issue is a huge one BUT the bigger issue is not single parents or leaving the kids with Grandma and Grandpa.  Hell that is what my mom did every day when she went to work. 

 

couples in the city can barely afford to live for themselves   with the high costs.  Then you add in that once the  mat leave is finished they have to find a baby sitter or care giver to look after the baby.

 

The biggest issue though is As of March 1, 2024, the Labour Protection Act (Amendment) B.E. 2566 in Thailand requires employers to pay 100% of an employee's regular salary for 45 days of maternity leave. The Social Security Office then pays the employee 50% of their regular salary for the remaining days of their maternity leave. 

 

So a couple go to university  they get good jobs 20k each a month

 

They rent a nice apartment 15 k

get BTS passes  1500   

eat  6000

 

So far not too bad But

 

Student loans 50,000 min payment of 2k a month

 

Then add in teh costs for medical as well as the price of looking after a child and now they are screwed because as much as the government says it want them to have the 09 days after 45 the wife drops to 50% salary. 

So she has to go back to work after finding someone tht can care for her child. 

[spidermike007]

The declining birth rates are simply symptomatic of intelligent people looking at life in this day and age, looking at their financial situation, looking at the lack of state support, and just simply deciding that having children it's just not some place they need to go. If they're going to have children, many are limiting it to one child.

 

There is nothing that could possibly be more positive for the future of Thailand, and the world, than a seriously declining birth rate. It's something that we need drastically. The last thing in the world this planet needs right now is an expanding population. 

 

Of course there will be challenges that will accompany a declining population, and those that support an ever expanding GDP will argue that a declining population is not sustainable. I would argue the exact opposite. 

[spidermike007]

Japan's population is projected to fall from a peak of 128 million in 2017 to less than 53 million by the end of the century.

 

If you look at the curves birth rates are falling all over the world, except in Africa, the forlorn continent. Falling in China, Thailand, Japan, etc. Some are predicting China's population to fall to 650 million within 50 years, the crisis is that bad. I don't call it a crisis. I think it's a huge  blessing. 

 

Italy is expected to see an equally dramatic population crash from 61 million to 28 million over the same timeframe.

 

They are two of 23 countries - which also include Spain, Portugal, Thailand and South Korea - expected to see their population more than halve.

 

Hooray!!! 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53409521

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by spidermike007