At a dialogue session held yesterday evening, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean met more than 80 women from various women's organisations to discuss pressing issues faced by Singapore women.
Chief among these were the obstacles to having more children.
DPM Teo observed that Singaporeans were too obsessed with achieving perfection, and put off having children in their quest for seeking and waiting for perfection, that "we end up not having any."
Mr Teo, who is also Defence Minister, adviced women to put up with a bit of messiness in their lives, and that young couples should not wait for a perfect life before having children. The fertility rate stands at 1.22, which is below replacement level.
But many of the participants present pointed the finger at employers who were not pro-family, and that women were unable to achieve work-life balance as they were expected to fulfil parental roles as well as be effective, contributing employees.
Another issue raised was whether Singapore was a good place to spend one's retirement's years.
Watch the dialogue:
As a first world country, shouldn't MOM review annual leave entitlement?
Even those days under british colony, singaporean enjoy 54 days annual leave.
This government has been pursueing material growth at all cost. For the millionaire ministers, their families, perhaps they have enough wealth to live in luxury for three generations. They can afford $45,000 cooking class, or a $400 dinner at Waku Ghin. I bet they probably have three or four kids each... so that wealth and succession will be passed on.
For the majority of us, we have to work longer, harder, smarter. Husband .....
1. Provide free delivery for hospital.
2. Provide free education up till 18 yrs or a level.
3. Provide subsides Uni edu.
4. Provide cheaper transport fare.
Donât say we just complain here are some solutions.
Do it ,, if not you are just out to wayang
Mr Teo, a piece of advice for you here, please donât make us all hate you further
Pls do not exaggerate about couples aiming for perfection. Are they ?
1. Unaffordable housing - you need space and shelter.
2. High cost of living - you reproduce but you pay so much for everything ie hospital, milk powder, education etc.
3. No incentive - all incentives can only see but cant really use. How about discount on hospital, schools etc for second or third kids onwards? To bring up a kid at such high cost, how?
4. Discrimination - mothers often discriminated at work.
5. Work your arxx - The kiasu and competition from cheap FTs, you work your arxx off, spending so little time at home and stressed, what mood to reproduce? And you may lose your job anytime when employers go for cheap talents, how to support your family?
It should not be a demand by the Government! The more you demand, the more stressful it becomes, and the less likely people will want to have children.
If Govt really want more children from Singaporeans, don't just talk talk...go change the environment, change the culture, change the way of living, change the system, or perhaps change the Govt who only look at the statistics but not the real issues that Singaporeans face!