Ng Eng Hen on enlisting women for National Service

Compulsory National Service (NS) comes with significant costs to enlistees and society, and can only be justified if it serves the critical need of national security and defence. This is the basis of the social compact surrounding NS and those who do not comply are dealt with harshly. Making the point in Parliament on Monday (May 9), Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said Singapore has no current need to enlist women for NS and should not do so to send a signal of gender equality or conscript women in roles such as caregiving and healthcare. Dr Ng said the societal cost of making women do NS will far outweigh the benefits. Their entry into the workforce will be delayed, leading to a decline in the size of the local workforce and a reduction in household incomes. Dr Ng said women are already making significant contributions as regulars and volunteers and that the Singapore Armed Forces is stepping up their recruitment. He was answering MPs’ questions in the House.