SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said it is
important for couples to have confidence in Singapore's future and
ultimately want Singapore to be the best place to settle down and
raise children.
He was speaking at the Lunar New Year dinner at his
Teck Ghee ward on Saturday evening.
He said: "Here, your children will get good
education, will have good opportunities, that here we can build a
home together. A home where we feel Singaporean, a home where we
can have opportunities, a home where we can help look after one
another, and make tomorrow better than today."
The government recently announced a Marriage and Parenthood package
that aims to help Singaporeans settle down and raise
children.
However, Mr Lee noted that parents are worried about childcare
arrangements.
He said: "It's not easy because a lot of couples now, both parents
are working and cannot always rely on grandparents to look after
their kids because the grandparents may be older, may no longer be
in good health, may not have the strength to take care of the
grandchildren anymore. So, we need infant care and childcare
facilities."
Mr Lee said building more childcare facilities will take time. He
also said the centres can be set up quickly, but good teachers take
time to train.
He added what is most important is to make it easier for parents to
spend time with their children.
Mr Lee said: "So, we have paternity leave, we have shared parental
leave, and these are big steps forward. We are also promoting good
work-life balance, flexible work arrangements, and I think if we
can do that, then that's the best hong bao which parents can give
their children - our love and attention. I hope these measures will
encourage couples to marry and to have more children."
Mr Lee said he is confident that Singapore can be transformed into
a better place and next generation will do its part to improve
it.
- CNA/xq
