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SINGAPORE: Inflation, foreign workers and parenthood issues featured prominently in Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally speech to the Chinese community on Sunday.
Prime Minister Lee acknowledged that inflationary pressures on living costs and the pressure from new immigrants in the job market remain the immediate concerns of Singaporeans. But he also urged them not to ignore long-term challenges, like encouraging people to get married and start a family.
The integrated resort at Marina Bay is taking shape. Along with Resorts World at Sentosa, the two multi-billion-dollar projects will provide 20,000 new jobs.
But with a low unemployment rate of 2.3 per cent, there just aren't enough Singaporeans to fill all the positions. So, more foreign talent have arrived to support the workforce.
Stressing that the government's responsibility is to Singaporeans, Prime Minister Lee gave the assurance that new immigrants will not compromise on opportunities for Singaporeans.
Mr Lee said: "Our economy has become more vibrant and diversified, we lack talent and workers. Without their participation, there will not be enough Singapore workers to grow the economy. Foreign talent also strengthen our ranks in sports. Because we welcome talent, we can compete above our class."
On inflation, Prime Minister Lee acknowledged that many Singaporeans are feeling the heat of rising living costs. So, Mr Lee said, more will be done at the grassroots level to help needy families.
A second instalment of Growth Dividend, or cash payouts to share the nation's budget surpluses, will be given out in October.
This year, some S$3 billion has been set aside to help Singaporeans cope with hard times. Apart from assistance packages, Mr Lee said the government will try to restrain cost increases whenever possible.
Recounting how the government had come up with initiatives to help Singaporeans cope with inflationary pressures, Mr Lee said despite this, there is still anxiety, and some have blamed the government for not doing enough.
Mr Lee said this could be because the government did not make a big show that it was giving out help.
Apart from the immediate concerns, a longer-term challenge is getting more Singaporean couples to have more babies.
At the Rally, Mr Lee said Singapore's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 1.29, which is far short of the replacement level of 2.1, is worrying.
"The problem is acute for Chinese, whose TFR is 1.14, this is below the national average. This means each family is only replacing either the father or mother. The numbers will decline rapidly in a few generations," he said.
Another closely-linked topic is to encourage young people to get hitched. Some have put off marriage to advance their careers or they could not find a partner.
To this end, Mr Lee remarked candidly that perhaps the People's Association could organise "Parental Matchmaking Sessions" in Singapore too. Such sessions are a popular activity in Beijing, where parents meet, exchange information and find suitable partners for their children.
But Mr Lee admitted that these are personal matters which the government can only facilitate.
The Prime Minister also identified the challenges of new media and promoting gracious living as other important long-term problems for Singapore.
- CNA/ir
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