Singapore PM urges youth to marry, have babies
SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called Sunday on the youth of Singapore to marry at an early age and have more babies to boost the city-state's population.
Singapore's fertility rate is currently 1.29 children per woman, well below the 2.1 needed to maintain the country's 4.6 million population, Lee said in a televised speech.
He voiced particular concern about the Chinese community, whose fertility rate is the lowest of all Singapore's ethnic groups at 1.14. "They fail," Lee said.
Lee, 56, said men and women need to adjust their attitudes toward marriage to achieve his goals. Many of Singapore's men are too traditional while their wives care too much about their careers, he said.
"There must be a balance between career and marriage," Lee said, urging women to "consider getting married and having children while you're still young."
"If you wait for a career to be successful, you may miss the best ideal age for child bearing," he warned.
On the other hand, Singapore's husbands need to "change their mind-set," said Lee, who has been married to his wife, Ho Ching, for 23 years. They have four children.
"In the old days, the man was the master of the household. That era has gone." Lee said, suggesting men should assist their wives with child-rearing duties and household chores. "The modern-day woman expects equality."
Parents of young people in Singapore also have a role to play, Lee said, urging them to match their children with possible spouses.
"Not everyone knows how to woo the opposite sex," Lee said. "They may have smaller social circles, and a busy work schedule."
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Singapore's fertility rate is currently 1.29 children per woman, well below the 2.1 needed to maintain the country's 4.6 million population, Lee said in a televised speech.
He voiced particular concern about the Chinese community, whose fertility rate is the lowest of all Singapore's ethnic groups at 1.14. "They fail," Lee said.
Lee, 56, said men and women need to adjust their attitudes toward marriage to achieve his goals. Many of Singapore's men are too traditional while their wives care too much about their careers, he said.
"There must be a balance between career and marriage," Lee said, urging women to "consider getting married and having children while you're still young."
"If you wait for a career to be successful, you may miss the best ideal age for child bearing," he warned.
On the other hand, Singapore's husbands need to "change their mind-set," said Lee, who has been married to his wife, Ho Ching, for 23 years. They have four children.
"In the old days, the man was the master of the household. That era has gone." Lee said, suggesting men should assist their wives with child-rearing duties and household chores. "The modern-day woman expects equality."
Parents of young people in Singapore also have a role to play, Lee said, urging them to match their children with possible spouses.
"Not everyone knows how to woo the opposite sex," Lee said. "They may have smaller social circles, and a busy work schedule."
link
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