SINGAPORE — Making Singapore a great place for starting families and raising children will be one key focus of the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) in the Prime Minister’s Office over the next five years.

In NPTD’s addendum to the President’s Address, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is in charge of the division, said they will promote a “pro-family environment where Singaporeans can fulfil their family and work aspirations”.

Noting that citizen marriages and births are among their highest levels in more than a decade, Mr Teo said it is a trend the Government wants to keep up.

Even as the Government has enhanced housing and childcare policies in strengthening a pro-family environment, fathers and employers can play their parts to strengthen support for marriage and parenthood, he said.

“As more mothers remain active in the workforce, there is room for fathers to play more active roles in bringing up children. Employers are also critical in ensuring good workplace support,” added Mr Teo.

Earlier this month, Mrs Josephine Teo, who helps to oversee NPTD, said more measures to help soon-to-be and new parents will be rolled out this year, including helping fathers play a more active role in raising children. Two other areas being looked at are giving new parents more affordable yet high-quality childcare options and improving support for new parents in the workplace and community.

In the addendum, Mr Teo also said Singapore will also need a “carefully calibrated number of new citizens” to keep the population stable amidst a rapidly ageing population in Singapore.

“We will strike a careful balance, so that Singaporeans do not feel crowded out, and we can meet the needs of our ageing citizen population and workforce,” he added.

As a multiracial society, Singapore must also be a fair and cohesive society where everyone is treated fairly and has equal opportunity to succeed based on merit and hardwork.

“We will foster greater mutual understanding and appreciation between different people living in Singapore, through facilitating more social interactions and raising awareness of shared societal values and norms,” added Mr Teo.