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Singapore’s population crisis: Can ‘working for longer’ fix what family perks can’t?

As the appeal of having children dwindles, more urgent solutions are needed to combat a shrinking workforce

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Tessa Oh

Tessa Oh

Published Fri, May 17, 2024 · 03:00 PM
    • With more couples choosing to delay or opt entirely out of parenthood, many countries around the world, including Singapore, are facing a population crisis.
    • With more couples choosing to delay or opt entirely out of parenthood, many countries around the world, including Singapore, are facing a population crisis. PHOTO: SIMON ANG, BT

    OPEN up and scroll Instagram or TikTok, and you will come across fresh-faced couples in their 20s and 30s boasting about the luxurious life they lead as “Dinks”.

    And no, Dink is not an acronym for the latest investing or travel trend. Rather, it stands for “double income, no kids” – in other words, couples who are voluntarily childfree. The acronym has been around for decades but has beengiven new life with the rise of social media.

    The joy of being a Dink, say these couples, is being able to spend your disposable income on activities that you would not be able to indulge in if you had to care for young children, such as spontaneous and lavish vacations, expensive hobbies and fine dining.

    BrunchFertilityForeign workersSingapore manpower

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