Keeping the headcount up

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: In your view, how much of a concern is the decline in births for Singapore? To what extent should the country turn to immigration policy in response to the trend?

Seah Kian Peng CEO NTUC FairPrice

Our total fertility rate (TFR) statistics and trends are worrying. It is a sombre reminder that as we take care of our ageing population, we need a fair share of young talents to keep our country and economy growing, exciting and relevant. There is no silver bullet to solve this situation. So, we need to work on both fronts and strike a balance between encouraging Singaporeans to first and foremost start a family, then grow their family, while at the same time, supplementing our population with immigrants who can integrate quickly into our community. For the longer term, we must think about how population growth affects the planet - and how going forward, each man and woman must count for more. We must find new ways to thrive and prosper.

Victor Mills Chief Executive Singapore International Chamber of Commerce

Singapore's declining birth and total fertility rates have been concerns for decades. How do we sustain our vibrant economy? The answer has to lie, in part, in targeted immigration designed to attract people with the capabilities, expertise, investment, knowledge and skills Singapore and businesses need to complement our own local talent. The approach should be sectoral and focused on quality, not quantity. We will need to update our employment pass processes and make them fit for purpose. Singaporeans and residents need to continue to welcome immigrants so that they assimilate easily, contribute quickly and integrate fully into our global city.

John Bittleston Founder and Chair Terrific Mentors International Pte Ltd

Declining births pose a challenge that is well within Singapore's ability to meet. We have established ourselves as a place where High Talent aspires to spend between five and ten years both contributing and learning. Thus Singapore is rapidly building a worldwide alumnus of people who are keen to see Singapore flourish and are willing to help when asked. We should consider offering talented people with whom we want to keep in close touch Conditional Passports allowing them working stays for a certain amount of time each decade, renewable if both parties wish. This way great people all around the world will feel being part of Singapore.

Jane Prior Partner Rapzo Capital

Like the slow train wreck, declining birth rates must be a huge concern to all of us. Thankfully we have seen more incentives to support couples wanting to start a family but these are obviously being measured within the same-old context of what constitutes job and lifetime security but against the enormity of an economically gloomy and fast-heating world.

Resolution, I feel, is linked to earlier discussions around a shift in workplace attitudes and culture so that any would-be parents (Singaporeans or new arrivals) can take the plunge with more confidence that the future will enable integration of family and professional commitments without fear of prejudice. Ideas once considered absurd such as two people sharing one job and part-time positions may need to become commonplace and alongside that, more focus on education for leisure so that work-life balance becomes integral to self-actualisation.

Parenting is more than meeting a financial burden or successfully juggling a busy schedule - it is a journey of self-re-discovery as we view the fragile wonders of our world anew through the eyes of our children. Therein lies possibly our only salvation.

Jayaprakash Jagateesan Chief Executive Officer RHT Holdings Pte Ltd

I recently did my part and welcomed my second child earlier this year. Business leaders can also do their part by offering pro-family initiatives and creating a supportive workplace culture to sway working parents to have more children. RHT's Flexible Work Arrangement gives parents the confidence to balance their work and personal commitments by working from home for an extended period. We also need to dispel the implicit expectations to prioritise work which often stops parents from making full use of the available parental and childcare leave entitlements.

While declining birth rates may impact our nation-building process, immigration policies alone cannot address all aspects of our demographic challenges.

Simon Baptist Global Chief Economist and MD, Asia The Economist Intelligence Unit

A declining birth rate is something that almost every rich country is dealing with. It is inevitable, policy will need to adapt, and need not be a disaster. Immigration is a good solution to make this transition smooth, as we wait to see how far automation will reduce the labour-intensity of different industries. Singapore has some good family-friendly policies, but these could be extended to be consistent with the types of home arrangements that many of them want, which are not always the traditional formats. Paternity leave should be made longer and not contingent upon being married, and all mothers should be able to transfer their maternity leave entitlement to their partner if they wish, so that men are more able to be primary caregivers if the mother wants to keep working. Housing policy could also be adjusted so as to not discriminate against groups such as single parents, unmarried couples, and LGBT couples. In other countries, policies that enable people to combine the types of families and living arrangements they want with career have been more effective than tax incentives in encouraging births. That matters not just for the economy but also for giving more people a happy family life. It would also be great to see more working mothers in senior positions in Singapore business and government to act as role models and show that working parents can still succeed on merit.

Andrew Chan Founder and CEO ACI HR Solutions

The birth figures are not surprising at all - the contraction has been taking place for a number of years and will undoubtedly continue, putting more pressure on current manpower issues. Japan has faced this problem for over 20 years and even China is not immune, with both countries facing a shrinking workforce in recent years. From an employment perspective, whilst immigration is one answer, I believe there needs to be a balanced solution including workplace restructuring through automation. On a macro level, I don't actually believe there will be a reversal to the trend and a low birth rate is here to stay, much like in Japan.

Rathakrishnan Govind CEO London School of Business and Finance

The decline in births is a serious concern for any government. However, with the increasing world population, the decline is somewhat welcoming on a social note! Governments today are in fact very aware of this problem, with the trend of birth decline evident in many developed nations. Whilst technology can replace humans in some ways, in certain job roles it is not always feasible or productive to do so. The labour crunch is especially acute in the serrvice industries, and immigration is a viable option that must be carefully studied and implemented. Controlled immigration can boost the economy and local businesses. International students are especially a valuable manpower source for the service sectors while they are at school and can be allowed to work limited hours. It is time to review blanket policies and introduce bespoke customised solutions for a better future for businesses.

Tan Suee Chieh President-elect Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

If we do not address this crisis, Singapore will wither away with time.

The answer to the issues facing mankind is not to have more children but to sustain our resources wisely. As a country of immigrants, we should welcome immigrants - Asians, Europeans, South Americans and Africans, and not let any single race dominate. It is important to build a truly strong multi-cultural Singapore core and identity. In the emerging digital paradigm, we require diversity of thinking, talent and skills sets to thrive. We are too small to be insular. I believe Singaporeans can be rallied to support this, if more thought is put into this.

American greatness stemmed from a historical DNA that welcomed immigrants throughout the world. Hence, it has been able to renew itself, and be a leader in business, arts and the sciences. We can create an equally compelling island of dynamism too in the next 50-100 years. I see this crisis as an opportunity. I believe we can change our mindset and reinvent ourselves in order to thrive as an exceptional country.

Wilf Blackburn CEO Prudential Singapore

Fewer births and rising life expectancy have created a gap in Singapore's labour force - the supply of younger workers is unable to fill the void left by the swelling number of workers set to retire. Easing the labour crunch requires companies and individuals to rethink the traditional concept of work and retirement. At Prudential, we have started to plan for the future by lifting the retirement age for our employees. They do not need to stop work as long as they continue to perform. We also encourage internal mobility and continuous skills upgrading among our employees so they can remain relevant in the workforce for a longer period of time. Singapore has the world's longest lifespan. Businesses can take advantage of the country's longevity and turn that into an opportunity by investing more in leveraging the strength of the older workforce.

Roshni Mahtani CEO and Founder theAsianparent

The issue of declining birth rates is alarming - Singapore is well below the total fertility rate of 2.1, the number needed to replace our current population. Plummeting birth rates have a drastic impact on the country that already has an aging population, with fewer people to support the economy, and increased healthcare costs over the years. Immigration is not a long-term fix; there has to be a delicate balance in using it as a response to declining birth rates. In the long term, we need more open communication, public policies, funding, and support mechanisms that help to increase birth rates and support families across the socio-economic scale.

Chris J Reed Global CEO and Founder Black Marketing

Singapore can't have limited immigration when the evidence is that Singaporeans do not want babies. The facts don't lie; bribes, coercion and forcing people to get married for HDB flats do not make them want to have babies, and penalising single mothers is also not an encouragement to have babies. Singapore has to start welcoming immigrants, allowing single people to have HDB flats before the age of 35 and not stigmatising single mothers. As a new Singaporean citizen I am delighted to bring up my children here and encourage them to give back to the country that they have lived in all their lives; others should get this chance too.

Violet Lim, CEO & Co-Founder Lunch Actually Group

As a professional matchmaker and a mother of two, I am extremely concerned about the decline in births in Singapore.

Singles are getting married later and this affects their fertility. The government has given a slew of goodies to encourage dating, marriage and parenthood. It is well appreciated but often seen as not enough. In Japan, there was a slight reversal of the decline in birth trend. The reason was because corporates realised that it was getting more difficult to hire, and that a decline in births would actually come back to haunt them later. Hence, corporates are now embarking on more work-life balance policies for their employees.

We need to do the same in Singapore. As bosses, managers or business owners - how can we have in place policies, formal or informal, to help singles to have time to go on dates? Many singles have shared with me that they are the ones expected to work overtime because their married colleagues have to rush off to pick up their children from childcare,etc. How can we help married employees leave work on time so that they have time for romance? In addition to what the government has provided in terms of childcare leave, what else can we offer our employees so that they are better able to juggle between family and work, say, through flexi-work arrangements?

Like the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a kid. Other than government policies, as bosses, we can do our part to help reverse the declining birth trend.

Tony Lombardo Chief Executive Officer of Asia Lendlease

Raising a child requires significant commitment and as an employer, we believe that a caring culture that enables our employees to better manage both work and life demands is important. We offer flexible work hours, remote working, part-time employment and job sharing. We also strive to achieve gender equity with our best-practice parental care leave that has provisions for the primary carer - whether the father, mother or partner - for both newborns as well as adopted newborns. Our inclusion strategy recognises that everyone has different priorities at different phases of their lives and providing strong support through these stages enables us to retain a strong talent pool.

Chia Ngiang Hong President Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore (REDAS)

One alarming aspect of the declining birth rate is the indifference to warnings about the new demographic reality of a shrinking workforce. A seemingly easy way out is to tweak the current tight immigration policy. However, this is a stopgap measure that has high socio-political costs. Employers should address immediate manpower concerns by leveraging on technology, innovation and revolution in infotech, etc. This would also go hand in glove with the SkillsFuture programme to empower the workforce. More importantly, we should not give up on looking for a long-term solution that addresses the root of our perennial demographic problem. Perhaps the answer lies not just in immigration or in relying on monetary incentives, but rather in providing pragmatic solutions that directly address the very real and everyday concerns of working mums and parents so that more people are more willing to assume parenthood early.

Dileep Nair Independent Director Thakral Corporation Limited

Demography for Singapore is an existential challenge....so long as we wish to remain a sovereign country. Without immigration, our working-age citizen population would have already started to shrink, given our dangerously low fertility rate. Coupled with the rapidly aging resident population, this would have a severe impact on our economy and overall well-being of our people. To achieve sustainable growth of about 3 per cent for a vibrant economy, even with a productivity gain of 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent, we would need labour force increase of 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent. This means we must continue to welcome immigrants, albeit in a regulated way so that it does not threaten our social well-being, cohesion and national identity. We had a backlash against immigration between 2005 and 2010 when infrastructure in terms of transport, housing, medical care and education, was insufficient to cope with the influx. This must be avoided. Similarly, genuine attempts must be made for immigrants to integrate with, rather than be isolated from, the Singapore milieu. We must be seen as an attractive destination in this worldwide competition for the talented and well-educated. After all, inclusiveness is in our DNA since for most of us, our parents or grandparents were themselves immigrants.

Vikas Nahata Executive Chairman & Co-Founder Validus Capital

The declining birth rate and ageing population are a concern for the future health of Singapore as a vibrant economy and nation. While the government has come up with multiple initiatives, we are still seeing a dip in the birth rate. The key questions to be asked and answered should be - Why are young couples not having children? Is the marriage rate going up? Is this reflecting a trend in the population to have kids at a later stage of their lives? I feel the joys of parenthood should be publicised through multiple media sources as young adults should not feel afraid to have children, and should also know that it's something that's well supported by the government. Immigration policy should be considered to bring positive, vibrant families into the ecosystem, but they must fit with the Singapore culture and nation-building spirit.

Maren Schweizer Director Schweizer World Pte Ltd

It's not too late for Singapore.

It is time to re-accelerate immigration, by attracting and nurturing talented workers.

Singapore remains a bastion for liberal mobilities and cultural tolerance. Multiculturalism, being elder-friendly, encouraging parenthood, lifelong learning and technology are complementing measures.

I believe that diverse talent availability is the linchpin of innovation and sustainable eco-social success.

Singapore had a headstart in planning for an aging population and is doing an amazing job by attracting highly-skilled and talented foreign labour, which is a boon not just for the economy but also for the population.

Helen Ng Chief Executive Officer Lock+Store

As a mother of two, I am acutely aware of the pressures that working mothers face in Singapore. Although men are more enlightened these days and do their fair share of parenting, women still bear a heavier load than men in balancing work and family. We should do more to support working mothers and help mature employees stay employable before turning to immigration as a solution.

Lim Soon Hock Managing Director PLAN-B ICAG

We all should be concerned with the declining TFR (total fertility rate). It is not just a government's problem. It is every Singaporean's problem, given the severe repercussions on our future. Technology can and should be leveraged to make up for the shortfall in our workforce. Through technology, one person can virtually be more than one, through higher productivity. Technology also enables us to tap on human capital outside Singapore, which we should continue to exploit, given that anyone can now work anywhere and anytime.

Singapore must continue to remain open to tap on foreign talent, not just to make up for the potential shortfall in human capital, but to enrich our talent pool. If need be, our immigration policy can be tweaked.

From 2006 to 2013, the then National Family Council, which I chaired, actively promoted a "Think Family, Family First" mindset through key initiatives such as Dads for Life and Marriage Central. There was also a concerted effort to redefine success beyond academic or career achievements to include having a family. The government should continue to intensify efforts on public education to promote early marriages and the family, as the problem of a declining birth rate is a complex one and will take time to solve, if at all it can be solved.

David Leong Managing Director PeopleWorldwide Consulting Pte Ltd

The demographic deficit in Singapore is pronounced and real. Simply put, Singapore's population is contracting and is not replacing itself fast enough.

A contracting indigenous population for Singapore will radically change our economic health and wealth.

There is no easy way out to counter-balance the falling birth rates. In my opinion, the best way to bring in potential citizens will be to liberalise our education system from primary schools to allow students from neighbouring countries to enter our mainstream education system from young, by paying full fees. This is a form of seeding and being schooled in the Singapore system will shape and mould the foreign students to our culture and way of life. This would also promote Singapore as an educational hub, and we earn educational dollars. Our current school capacity can handle the volume and we would not have to merge or shut schools because of a lack of students.

When foreign students spend at least 15 years in our educational system, they are likely to be deeply rooted to Singapore and the likelihood of their becoming Singaporeans will be higher. Put simply, this augmentation strategy is to borrow the seeds to grow in our soil. When the trees bear fruits, they will be Singapore's.

Goh Yang Chye Managing Director GYC Financial Advisory Pte Ltd

There are many Singaporeans who want to have babies but are unable to and there are also many Singaporeans who have babies but for some reason do not want to have them. I am not sure how many babies are lost each year through abortion; the number could be significant. I would say our country may need to review its abortion laws. I am no expert on this matter, but I vaguely recall reading that girls as young as 14 do not need to seek parental guidance for abortion.

Maybe we should revisit this matter and see how we can have some form of support for both parties and how we can rebalance this conundrum. Of course such matters are complex and require extreme care and sensitivity but it is worth the consideration.

Is a decline in births a concern for Singapore? Of course it is; there's always a optimal population base that a country needs to have to survive and prosper.

As to increasing the population base via immigration - I would say that there must be a greater emphasis on instituting a thorough assimilation programme pre-entry for each candidate, rather than trying to assimilate new immigrants after they have been granted access to our shores.

Erich Gerber GM, Asia Pacific and Japan TIBCO Software

With these trending stats at hand, Singapore may well be at a turning point in its history, where it wants to consider loosening up on national interests and allow more diversity. The position Singapore has developed over the last 50 years, has become so strong in terms of global economic and social perspectives that the time seems right to open it up for more cultures to settle here.

Annie Yap CEO AYP Group

I personally foresee that Singapore's birth rate will keep declining and it is undoubtedly a matter of grave concern. The low fertility rate unquestionably represents a danger to Singapore's development.

Singapore has consistently been welcoming of foreign talents and immigration, but this may to an extent be a silent reason with respect to the decrease in birth rate. How strong is the Singaporean's sense of affinity and feeling about Singapore as home? How confident and comfortable are we? How secure is our next generation about their position even if we want our legacy, culture and economic development to continue?

Foreign talents and immigration are welcome, but the numbers must be controlled and the migrants be of the right fit.