If S'pore means something to us, there must be a next generation to inherit it: Jasmin Lau

If "Singapore means something to us", there must be a next generation to inherit what past generations have worked so hard to build, said Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau.

Total Fertility Rate

She was delivering her opening remarks on Oct. 14 at the second day of the Institute of Policy Studies' (IPS) Young Singaporeans Conference (YSC) 2026: Futuremakers.

It focused on Singapore's declining total fertility rate (TFR), and set out to understand the perspectives of young Singaporeans on having children.

YSC 2026 also aimed to provide an opportunity to collectively address challenges possibly contributing to the nation's low TFR.

Deeply personal topic

Lau, who is also Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, acknowledged that it is a deeply personal topic.

She said: "For some of us, I would say, particularly the women, we feel very deeply about the issue of family and parenting or childbirth...."

This is because "we really feel that if Singapore means something to us, then there must be a next generation of Singaporeans who inherit the country that we spend so much effort [on]".

Next generation

In that regard, Lau noted that if people did not have children anymore, no one should care about topics such as housing, the future, or the environment because there would be no Singapore.

"There's no point in all of this if we didn't have a next generation or grandchildren that come after us, we might as well just say — have a good life while we can, and then the future will figure itself out in whatever way people choose to do so," she said.

Lau added that there would then be no purpose and meaning of anyone being in public service because there would be no Singapore and no future, which she said was what drives many who are in government now.

"That's why we work on policies like marriage and parenthood," she said, "that's why we care about family policy because it shapes the society that we are going to be in".

TFR new low

An earlier report mentioned that Singapore's TFR had dropped to a new low of 0.87 in 2025.

The issue quickly became a matter of priority to the government. In April this year, a new workgroup was launched in a bid to tackle the problem.

Workgroup chairperson Indranee Rajah called for a marriage and parenthood reset and said the crisis requires "all of society" to play a part, not just the government alone.

The workgroup, which was first announced during the budget debate in February, will release its findings by early 2027.

It will examine factors including financial costs, work-life support, caregiving, housing, healthcare, preschool and education, as well as work with stakeholders to promote relevant societal norms and workplace practices.

The workgroup, which Lau is a part of, will focus on two broad categories: What the government can do, and what society as a whole can do.

This means reviewing policies as well as how individuals can contribute to the issue.