Minister in the Prime Minister\u2019s Office Indranee Rajah said she hopes Singaporeans will be \u201chappy to have children\u201d and have more time for their families.<\/p>\n
She was speaking on CNA\u2019s Work It podcast in an episode titled \u201cWhy workplaces need to talk about fertility\u201d<\/a>, uploaded on May 4.<\/p>\n Leading the recently announced marriage and parenthood work group, Ms Indranee said decisions about marriage and parenthood are not just about finances \u2014 though these are \u201cvery important\u201d \u2014 but also about values, attitudes and mindset.<\/p>\n She said the work group will focus on two areas, the first being policies related to financial support, childcare leave and housing. The second, she added, would be a broader \u201cwhole-of-nation approach\u201d examining society\u2019s mindsets towards marriage and parenthood.<\/p>\n When asked by host Nathaniel Fetalvero what an ideal outcome would look like, Ms Indranee said she hopes Singaporeans will \u201cwant to and be able to find life partners\u201d, \u201caspire to have and be happy to have children\u201d, and have supportive employers, families and communities.<\/p>\n She added that she hopes Singaporeans also have time for family, describing this as \u201ccrucial currency\u201d.<\/p>\n Over the years, she has observed that people are expected to work 24\/7, she noted. \u201cBut how to work 24\/7, and have a successful marriage, and look after your kids?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She called for a \u201cback to basics\u201d approach, where Singaporeans work hard but still have time for dinner with their families, are not required to return to the office on weekends, and are not contacted via texts and emails during leave.<\/p>\n \u201cWe used to have once a year have dinner with your family, but that doesn\u2019t really cut it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms Indranee said one thing that needs to change is how people view workplace expectations.<\/p>\n While companies have goals to meet, she noted there are \u201cmany ways\u201d to achieve them.<\/p>\n Although some industries can support work-from-home arrangements more easily than others, she said all sectors can review their work processes to see how they can better align work demands with family life.<\/p>\n Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Finance Shawn Huang, who is also a member of the work group, said there should be deeper conversations between employers and employees on how flexible work arrangements can be implemented.<\/p>\n Ms Indranee added that team leaders of companies play a critical role, as they are often the ones approving leave requests and flexible work arrangements.<\/p>\n She pointed out that some employees are hesitant to ask for such arrangements, and even maternity or paternity leave, because they may feel \u201csubtly discouraged\u201d from doing so.<\/p>\n To address this, she said employees should reassure employers that work will be properly handed over, while employers should be more open to accommodating such requests.<\/p>\n She said it is about finding the balance between work goals and family goals, which she described as a \u201cmental model that needs to be readjusted\u201d.<\/p>\n When asked about differing priorities among singles, couples without children \u2014 also known as DINKs, which stands for dual income, no kids \u2014 and those with families, Mr Huang said needs evolve across life stages and emphasised the importance of respect, kindness and understanding.<\/p>\n He noted that employees may have different needs, including caregiving responsibilities and medical issues, and said flexible work arrangements can support \u201coutcome-based productivity\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just about being at your desk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust because both of you are married with no kids, doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need time,\u201d Ms Indranee added, highlighting the importance of investing in relationships.<\/p>\n Shumin Lin, president of Fertility Support SG, agreed, noting that both dual-income couples without children and those with families ultimately value time together. She added: \u201cThat\u2019s universal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust as you can set aside time for your wife, so too will you be able to set aside time with your family \u2014 and it\u2019s not very different at all,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The podcast also touched on fertility challenges, low fertility literacy and the support needed for those struggling in this area.<\/p>\n Ultimately, Mr Huang said focusing on KPIs is often short term. For long-term sustainability, companies need to better support and integrate employees. \u201cIf you don\u2019t have a more conducive and inclusive workplace, you won\u2019t be able to retain talent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Have something to say? Join in!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Explore more on these topics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n See something interesting? Contribute<\/a> your story to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\u2018Back to basics\u2019 on work and family<\/h2>\n
Scroll to continue reading<\/span><\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRethinking workplace norms<\/h2>\n
\u2018Just because both of you are married with no kids, doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need time\u2019<\/h2>\n
\n![\"Stomp](\"https:\/\/www.stomp.sg\/assets\/stomp-comment-COLiWNMD.png\")
<\/p>\n