Singles aren't welcome here

That's right. Singapore doesnt like us. We are not needed. If a colleague is pregnant, we are expected to help cover her work duties cos she's going to be away for a loooong time. Guess what? Her job's not so important now - she's got bigger things to fry like contributing to the natural population figures. For that, she and her immediate family will get baby bonus payouts and tax rebates. Daddy gets extra paternity leave too! WOOHOO! Guess who's going to cover Daddy while he's gone?

It's all about the money, stupid. And money will get you thus far.

For some time now, the government has been dangling economic carrots to encourage more births. But people being people will never be satisfied. Their common refrain: we want more! When do you stop?

I think more needs to be done about work-life balance. Singaporeans work too darn hard for returns that dont reflect their input. Thing is you can never finish work. Work has a funny knack of expanding to fill your leisure time. When one thing gets done, another rolls in. Even if you are done for the day, your boss is still around in the office so you decide to stick around.

But what we've gotten from the govt thus far has been all word but little action. That's unsurprising. To change the mindsets of Singaporeans when it comes to prioritising work and family requires a sweeping effort. It's a cultural thing.

And we all know how hard we have worked to make Singapore spit-free, more courteous etc. It's going to take a while...