By Jeremy Au Yong & Cai Haoxiang

THE fate of Jobs Credit, the Government's wage subsidy scheme, could be known in two weeks' time.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday he hoped to make an announcement on this on Oct 13, when the National Trades Union Congress holds its Ordinary Delegates Conference.

The Government is reviewing the matter very carefully and will take into account the economic outlook and the employment situation, he said.

PM Lee made these remarks in a speech before a dialogue organised by the women's wing of the People's Association. With him on the dialogue panel were Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, and three other women MPs

The $4.5 billion Jobs Credit scheme is a one-year aid programme that ends in December. However, companies are already drawing up their business plans for next year and need to know whether they can still count on it.

The scheme, which pays employers 12 per cent of workers' wages for the first $2,500 a month, has been credited with helping to keep a check on Singapore's jobless rate, which stands at 3.3 per cent.

The worst is over and, looking ahead, PM Lee said the global economic situation seems more stable. However, he warned there could be a second dip. The worry is what would happen when countries withdraw their large stimulus packages.

'There's some risk of it, not the most likely probability, but it could happen,' he said.

And even as the Government tackles these short-term issues, PM Lee has his sights set on preparing Singaporeans for the post-crisis period.

He highlighted three long-term challenges: raising productivity, dealing with globalisation, and getting more babies.

As he spelt them out, it was clear each one worked against the other.

Globalisation, he noted, would put a strain on family ties. As more Singaporeans take on regional and global jobs, families might have to relocate or live apart as the breadwinner works abroad and the spouse and children remain here.

'This inevitably causes stresses and strains to the families...and there are no easy solutions.'

Mr Lee also noted that future growth cannot rely on Singapore having more and more foreign workers. Raising productivity is critical. Also important is to get more locals into the workforce, especially older people and women.

Although more women are now working, there is room for improvement, he said, noting that it is still harder for women to balance a career and family.

'I don't think this state of affairs will change quickly, but we must persevere to make adjustments in our society.'

This included getting organisations to adopt flexi-work schemes and encouraging men to share the parenting.

One intended result of these adjustments, of course, is more babies.

He said the issue was so urgent that he would continue stressing it, even at the risk of sounding like a mak nenek (Malay term for nagging grandmother).

'Despite our enormous efforts, the mountain has moved but the mouse has not come out,' he said.

To make up for the baby shortfall, he said, Singapore needs to continue with its immigration policy which, in turn, has led to concerns over how to integrate the newcomers.

'But over the last 10 years, we are nowhere near replacing ourselves, even with immigrants,' he said.

His bottom line is that all the challenges cannot be solved by government action alone.

'It depends on Singaporeans tackling them together with the Government.'

After his remarks, PM Lee took questions from the audience of 240 women which touched on a range of domestic issues, from National Service to letting younger singles buy HDB flats.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.