SINGAPORE: Tackling Singapore's low fertility rate
will be a priority for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth
and Sports, said its Acting Minister Chan Chun
Sing.
Speaking on Monday during a visit to the
newly-renovated Registry of Marriages (ROM) and Registry of Muslim
Marriages (ROMM), Major-General (NS) Chan said the challenge was to
get more young people to marry.
Singapore's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) reached an
all-time low of 1.16 last year.
"In the short term, we can look at various things like having
better facilities, having work arrangements to help people get
started on marriage," MG Chan said.
He added in the longer term, he hoped people would not see having a
family as a burden.
MG Chan visited the new building -- renovated at a cost of some
S$4.2 million -- at Canning Rise.
The new building boasts new features such as a counter which
provides marriage-related information and two solemnisation
rooms.
The two registries also share a common customer service front,
presenting visitors with a warm and welcoming environment.
Operations will resume at the new building on June 14.
MCYS said more than 20 couples will be filing for solemnisation on
that date.
In addition, it said to facilitate the shift back to Canning Rise,
ROM and ROMM will be closed from Saturday June 11 to Monday June
13.
During this period, members of the public can continue to call the
ROM and ROMM main lines for assistance and enquiries.
The ministry said all online services would continue to be
available.
The ROM and ROMM have been operating temporarily at the Ministry of
National Development (MND) Building since January 26 last
year.
-CNA/wk