Singapore’s Prime Minister noted that birth rates around the world are declining.
Singapore:
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday urged Singaporean couples to have babies in the year of the Dragon and promised government support as many Chinese families consider children born in the year of the Dragon to be “particularly auspicious”. did.
In his annual Lunar New Year message, Mr Lee said the dragon was a “symbol of power, strength and good fortune”.
The prime minister, who celebrates his birthday on February 10, said: “Now is the perfect time for young couples to add a ‘little dragon’ to their family.” Mr. Lee was born in 1952, the year of the Dragon.
“We will continue to build a ‘Singapore for families’ and support your marriage and parenting aspirations,” Channel News Asia quoted Mr Lee, 72, as saying.
He said support for infant care and work-life balance was “gradually ramping up” to look after parents through their children’s formative years, and government-paid parental leave was recently reduced to two weeks on a voluntary basis. It added that the number has doubled in the last four weeks.
The Prime Minister said these measures would “reduce the burden on parents, but they are just a means to an end.”
“Ultimately, couples will decide whether or not to have children for their own reasons. I hope more people decide to have children and that they find raising children to be a very rewarding and fulfilling journey. I’m confident that people will feel that way.” Although he acknowledged that “this decision is a very personal one,” he said his encouragement “will encourage more couples to try to have babies.” I hope this will be an opportunity to do so.”
The Prime Minister also said families should celebrate the Lunar New Year in the same way.
“Families are the heart of our society. They give us unwavering strength and support, cheer us on in our triumphs and sustain us in adversity. It is a huge part of our identity, sense of belonging and purpose. Through our families, we pass on our aspirations and values from generation to generation,” said Lee.
“One of the important elements of family life is the birth and raising of children. For parents, it is a joy to welcome children into the world, to help them learn, grow, reach one milestone after another, grow year by year. It’s a great pleasure to see.
“Grandparents share this joy, just like I do. We dote on our grandchildren, we fuss about them, we help our parents raise them, and we play our part in this journey of happiness, purpose, and love. “I’m contributing,” he said.
Singaporeans will celebrate Lunar New Year this weekend on February 10 and 11, gaining an extra day off on Monday instead of celebrating on Sunday like other festivals.
The Prime Minister also pointed out that birth rates around the world, especially in “developed countries” like Singapore, are declining.
The total fertility rate for Singapore residents hit a record low of 1.05 in 2022, lower than previous records of 1.1 in 2020 and 1.12 in 2021.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Indrani Raja told Parliament in February 2023 that this decline was “partly due to the Lunar Year of the Tiger, when Chinese people are generally thought to have fewer births.” .
Because each generation has different aspirations, Lee finds that many young people prioritize career development, spend quality time with their partners, and pursue other interests.
“Even couples who want children may put off starting a family, not realizing how quickly it becomes difficult as the years go by,” he said. “This is all very understandable. But I still hope that more Singaporean couples decide to have more children and have them sooner.” “Welcoming the Year of the Dragon “Let us press forward with optimism and determination. I wish all Singaporeans good health and a very happy Lunar New Year,” he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)