Singapore's Newly Formed M&P Reset Workgroup to Review Support for Older Mothers as More Couples Have Children Later

Why It Matters

Addressing delayed parenthood and low fertility is critical for Singapore’s labor supply, economic growth, and the health outcomes of older mothers and their children.

Key Takeaways

• Fertility rate fell to 0.87 in 2025, a new low.
• Workgroup will review funding for fertility treatments and high‑risk pregnancy care.
• Policy focus includes flexible work, preschool affordability, and community support.
• Nine ministries collaborate to create a whole‑society marriage and parenthood reset.

Pulse Analysis

Singapore’s demographic outlook has become a strategic priority as the total fertility rate dropped to 0.87 in 2025, the lowest on record. An aging population and a shrinking workforce threaten long‑term economic vitality, prompting the government to act beyond traditional pronatalist measures. Older mothers, now more common as couples marry later, face heightened health risks and greater difficulty conceiving naturally, creating a dual challenge of medical and socioeconomic dimensions. By convening a dedicated M&P Reset Workgroup, policymakers signal a shift toward integrated, data‑driven solutions that address both supply‑side health services and demand‑side lifestyle factors.

The workgroup’s mandate spans three pillars: a strategic roadmap, policy enhancements, and societal mobilisation. Central to its agenda is a review of public funding for assisted‑reproductive technologies and specialised care for pregnancies over age 40, which carry higher maternal and neonatal complications. Simultaneously, the team will scrutinise workplace flexibility, preschool accessibility, housing affordability and community support structures—elements that influence couples’ decisions to marry and have children. The inclusion of the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests underscores the recognition that employer‑led work‑life balance initiatives are essential to retain talent while encouraging family formation.

For businesses, the reset presents both obligations and opportunities. Companies that embed pro‑family policies—such as extended parental leave, on‑site childcare, and flexible scheduling—can improve employee retention and tap into a broader talent pool. Moreover, a healthier, more child‑friendly environment can stimulate demand for family‑oriented products and services, from housing to education. As Singapore seeks to reverse its fertility decline, the collaborative, whole‑society approach championed by the M&P Reset Workgroup may become a model for other aging economies grappling with similar demographic headwinds.