SINGAPORE – A new inter-agency workgroup has identified clear areas of consensus among Singaporeans on the challenges of starting and raising a family, where action can be taken sooner.
Ahead of its full report in early 2027, it has come up with a set of interim policy recommendations so as not to “lose time in addressing this important issue”, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, who chairs the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup, on Aug 15.
“What is clear is that many do aspire to get married and have children. But at the same time, they encounter challenges including the cost of raising children, the need for time with family, caregiving arrangements, and housing,” she said in an opening address at the Pasir Ris-Changi National Day Dinner 2026 event held at Downtown East in Pasir Ris.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, Indranee said that it was clear to the workgroup that certain topics like workplace culture and norms are some issues on people’s minds.
“What we’re really after is a win-win solution,” she said, adding that there must be a balance between the interests and concerns of employers and employees.
“In order to be able to do that well, you need progressive, enlightened employers. You need good HR, not just HR policies, but good HR professionals,” she said.
“We do have the ability to address these, so rather than wait… (we) might as well deal with this early and upfront,” she said. The declining total fertility rate (TFR) and marriage numbers also added to the urgency, she noted.
Read Full Article At Source
