Workgroup tackling Singapore's declining marriage, birth rates to introduce interim measures: Indranee

The Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup will be rolling out interim measures which will be announced at the upcoming National Day Rally.

These measures come ahead of the workgroup's full report that will be released early next year, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah during the Pasir Ris-Changi National Day dinner on Saturday (Aug 15).

Addressing attendees at the event, Indranee, who chairs the workgroup, said these policies will ensure the government does not lose time in addressing the important issue of Singapore's declining birth and marriage rates.

Over the past few months, the inter-ministry workgroup has been speaking with Singaporeans regarding their aspirations and concerns towards settling down and starting families, she added.

These chats revealed that while many Singaporeans aspire to get married and have children, they encounter various challenges related to finances, housing and childcare.

Despite family formation seeing a downward trend both globally and in Singapore, the government is "not content to sit back and do nothing", Indranee said.

It will do all it can to make marriage and parenthood more achievable, supported and valued in Singapore.

Speaking to media at the sidelines of the event, she shared that these interim policies will focus on greater support the government can give to families.

When asked why these policies are coming ahead of the workgroup's full report, Indranee said some of these issues are "clearly on people's minds" and the government has the ability to address them.

"So rather than wait, we might as well deal with this early and upfront, because they are important issues," she said. 

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The interim policies announced during the NDR will be the "first wave" of things that the workgroup wishes to do, with more measures to come, she explained.

The workgroup is also looking at other areas which need long-term planning.

Indranee also assured Singaporeans that the workgroup took a holistic approach when coming up with these policies.

"When a baby is born, it doesn't stop there, right? A child has to go through childcare, primary school, secondary school," she said.

"In the review, we've taken a holistic view at the whole journey of a family, and we want to make sure that families are well supported at all stages."

More information on these interim measures will be revealed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during his National Day Rally speech on Aug 23.

Indranee also reiterated that these are interim measures, saying: "This means the work of the workgroup continues. And there will be other things that we're also working on."

While it will not be dealt with at the upcoming NDR, there are ongoing efforts to change workplace culture and norms when it comes to marriage and parenthood.

"We get a lot of feedback, not just on work-life balance, but also how employees apply for leave or how flexible work arrangements are implemented," Indranee said.

"So that's a big area that we need to to work on, going forward."

'Everyone has a role to play'

The inter-agency workgroup, which was formed in April after Singapore's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) hit an all-time low of 0.87, aims to help Singaporeans navigate marriage and parenthood.

It examines issues such as financial costs, work-life support, housing, healthcare, pre-school and education.

The Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup is chaired by Indranee and consists eight other political office holders from the health, education, manpower and other relevant ministries.

At Saturday's event, she said that policies alone can not support Singaporeans in getting married and starting families. 

"What we must do at a national level is to build a Singapore where families are supported and cherished. Everyone has a role to play in this."

Examples of community-based support include employers being more flexible with parents' working arrangements as well as family and friends providing emotional support or helping out with childcare, she added.

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bhavya.rawat@asiaone.com