Singapore Forms Workgroup to Help Families Grow

The Singapore government has set up a special workgroup to help more people get married and start families. The group is called the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup. It is led by Minister Indranee Rajah, who works in the Prime Minister's Office. On August 15, 2026, she shared some early findings and plans at a National Day dinner event in Pasir Ris. The workgroup wants to act quickly because fewer and fewer Singaporeans are getting married and having children.

The workgroup found that many Singaporeans do want to get married and have kids. But they face real challenges that make it hard. These include the cost of raising children, not having enough time with family, finding good childcare, and housing. Minister Indranee said it was important to understand what people are truly worried about before making changes.

One of the biggest issues the workgroup found is workplace culture. This means the rules and habits at work that affect how employees are treated. Minister Indranee said that workplaces need to become more family-friendly. She called for a 'win-win solution' where both employers and workers benefit. She also said that good human resources (HR) professionals — the people who manage workers — are just as important as good HR policies.

Singapore's total fertility rate, or TFR, fell to a record low of 0.87 in 2025. The TFR is a number that shows how many children, on average, a woman is expected to have in her lifetime. A number below 2.1 means a country is not producing enough children to keep its population steady. This low number made the workgroup feel it needed to act fast, instead of waiting for its full report, which is due in early 2027. Minister Indranee said they did not want to 'lose time in addressing this important issue.'

The workgroup was formed in April 2026. It brings together several key government ministries, including those in charge of health, jobs, education, and family services. Members of the group have been speaking with many Singaporeans to learn about their hopes and concerns. They are looking at topics like financial costs, childcare, housing, and healthcare. Their goal is to find ways to make family life more manageable and supported.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also spoke about these issues in his National Day message on August 8. He said the government is taking a fresh look at the costs of raising children and access to affordable childcare. More details were expected to be shared at the National Day Rally on August 23. Minister Indranee called these upcoming announcements 'the first wave of things that we want to do.' She made clear that the government sees this as an ongoing effort, not a one-time fix.

Parents who spoke to the media said they want more time with their children. They hope for more childcare leave — time off work to care for kids — with days given per child. They also want help paying for medical bills and learning activities. Many parents said there is a 'stigma,' or negative feeling, around taking maternity leave. They want the government to encourage employers to support parents who need this time off.

Minister Indranee said that government policies alone cannot fix Singapore's falling birth rate. Everyday kindness and support can also make a big difference. A boss who lets a parent leave early for a school event, or a friend who checks in on a new parent, can help families feel less alone. She said that building a family-friendly culture in society — not just in the law — is just as important. Every small act of support adds up.