# NDR 2026: A reset of childcare support high on agenda as Singapore eyes future > Source: > Published: 2026-08-23 16:15:51+00:00 # NDR 2026: A reset of childcare support high on agenda as Singapore eyes future From childcare leave to AI safeguards and new outer-island plans, PM Wong’s rally speech braces Singapore for a ‘new normal’ of global disruption [SINGAPORE] A reset of marriage and parenthood policies took centre stage at this year’s National Day Rally on Sunday (Aug 23), alongside plans on how Singapore intends to harness the advances of artificial intelligence while guarding against its risks. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also mapped out several long-term infrastructure plans for Singapore – from merging Semakau, Bukom and other outlying islands into a [new Western island](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/ndr-2026-new-western-island-be-created-new-industries-merging-semakau-bukom-and-other-islands), to exploring the possibility of building [massive undersea tunnels](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/ndr-2026-singapore-studying-undersea-tunnels-connect-mainland-pulau-tekong) linking Pulau Tekong to the mainland. These are meant to prepare Singapore for deeper changes ahead, said PM Wong, as the rules and norms that underpinned [global stability](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/ndr-2026-not-realistic-trace-every-shipment-through-singapore-satisfy-us-tariff-demands-says-pm-wong) for decades are being overturned. The US remains the world’s leading power, but China “has risen rapidly and is now a peer competitor, with deep capabilities in many areas”, he said. Europe, India and other “middle powers” are also asserting their interest more actively, he added. Power is thus becoming dispersed, with different centres “jostling for influence, competing for markets, technology, resources and increasingly, over who sets the rules of the game”. These are not temporary disruptions, PM Wong said, but a “new normal” Singapore must endure for years to come. Beyond steadying the ship amid recent turbulence, Singapore must go even further to stay “trusted, relevant and resilient, ready for whatever lies ahead”, he added. ## Support for families PM Wong devoted a significant part of his speech to families, acknowledging the pressures many face over the responsibilities and costs of starting one. For parents, he said, every day “is a balancing act, between work and family, between earning a living and caring for loved ones”. These concerns have shaped the work of an inter-agency work group led by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, which is still ongoing. A fuller set of proposals, including further support for married couples and singles, will follow in early 2027. One “fundamental shift” is to provide more sustained and consistent support throughout a child’s life, rather than concentrating it around the early years. Childcare leave for working parents will be [bumped up to as many as 12 days](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/ndr-2026-working-parents-get-12-days-childcare-leave-government-bear-cost), and those with more children will receive more leave days. Currently, parents get six days for children aged six and below, or two days for those aged seven to 12. Working parents with children aged 12 and below will get eight days of childcare leave if they have one child, 10 days if they have two, and 12 days if they have three or more. The government will also take over the full cost of statutory child-related leave, up to the reimbursement limit – a shift from the current cost-sharing arrangement with employers. The second shift is financial support. A [new child support package](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/ndr-2026-every-singaporean-child-get-nearly-s70000-direct-financial-support-birth-age-17) will consolidate existing schemes, including the Baby Bonus Cash Gift, so that every child receives the same level of support, PM Wong said. The new SG Child Support Package comprises a S$10,000 Baby Gift, S$32,000 in Child Credits, a Child Development Account with an initial S$5,000 grant plus dollar-for-dollar matching of up to another S$5,000, and a post-secondary education account top-up of S$10,000. This will also be extended to existing Singaporean children aged 17 and below in 2026, who will receive age-appropriate benefits from 2027. Together with existing schemes such as a S$5,000 Medisave grant and annual Edusave contributions, every Singaporean child will receive up to nearly S$70,000 in direct financial support. ## A balancing act The third area is housing. PM Wong noted that many Singaporeans are marrying later, and by the time they settle down, many are further along in their careers and earning more, pushing them past the current income ceilings. “We want to ensure that the vast majority of Singaporean couples can continue to have access to subsidised housing,” said PM Wong. The [income ceilings](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/ndr-2026-bto-income-ceiling-go-s16000-executive-condos-ceiling-s18000) for Build-to-Order flats and executive condominiums will thus be raised to S$16,000 and S$18,000, respectively, from S$14,000 and S$16,000. Families will also get an additional ballot chance for their first flat for every child they have or are expecting. For larger families, the government will provide additional Medisave top-ups, more transport support and is considering further housing support for those seeking bigger homes. Despite this enhanced support, PM Wong noted that Singapore’s total fertility rate is still likely to fall far short of the replacement level – a challenge shared by many other countries. Relying on births alone would shrink and age the citizen population more rapidly, leaving fewer Singaporeans to support a growing number of seniors. The government aims to keep growing the citizen population at a “measured and sustainable pace”, while remaining open to [foreign workers](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/ndr-2026-singapore-will-welcome-foreign-manpower-ensure-citizens-remain-majority) “in a careful and controlled way”. As a result, Singapore’s overall population and labour force will grow more slowly, with growth increasingly needing to come from technology and productivity, he said. Said PM Wong: “We will always ensure that Singaporeans remain the majority in our own country.” ## Opportunities and risks Staying relevant also means adapting to change, said PM Wong. Advances in AI have opened up new opportunities for businesses and individuals alike, but can also threaten jobs and livelihoods. As technology grows more powerful, Singapore also has to guard against risks that are more difficult to predict, he said, adding that the Republic will do its part to bring countries and companies together to “find common ground” on rules and safeguards. At home, Singapore will not [embrace new technologies blindly](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/ndr-2026-singapore-wont-block-tech-being-disruptive-will-support-affected-workers), but will anticipate risks, put appropriate safeguards in place and “always ensure that people remain in control”, he said. One area where such risks are surfacing is social media, which impacts the young in particular, noted PM Wong. While most platforms already set a minimum age of 13, enforcement currently relies on users self-declaring their age – an approach that is “not working well”, he said. Platforms will now be required to put in place more robust and reliable age checks. For teenagers aged 13 and above, [stronger safeguards](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/ndr-2026-new-rules-needed-ai-social-media-safety-says-pm-wong) will also be mandated against addictive design features such as endless scrolling, with the government considering additional restrictions – including raising the minimum age beyond 13 – if platforms’ safeguards remain inadequate. ## New Western island PM Wong also set out plans to expand Singapore’s land options by developing its outer islands. The cluster of islands south of Jurong Island will be merged into a larger Western island over the coming decades, similar to how Jurong Island itself was formed. But unlike Jurong Island, the new island will not be limited to petrochemicals; it is intended to support “a new generation of industries”, including advanced manufacturing and new power generation infrastructure. A second road link to Jurong Island will also be built, alongside a new link connecting it to the Western island. Singapore is also studying the feasibility of building undersea tunnels to connect Pulau Tekong to the mainland, after ruling out bridges due to busy shipping channels crossing the island. Tekong, Singapore’s largest outlying island, has been progressively reclaimed and merged from two separate islands, with future reclamation planned for its southern part. Even after meeting the army’s training needs, about 500 hectares of the island – roughly the size of Toa Payoh – will be available for future civilian use, said PM Wong. Rounding up the 80-minute speech, PM Wong warned that the years ahead will test Singapore in new ways, and Singaporeans need to stay united to prevail through the challenges. “There will be difficulties we cannot foresee and tests we cannot yet imagine,” he said. “But if we stay united, keep faith with one another, and hold fast to the values that have brought us this far, I am confident we will rise to every challenge.” Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free. Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved. [TRENDING NOW](/pulse?ref=trending-now) NDR 2026: Every Singaporean child to get direct financial support from birth to age 17 NDR 2026: BTO income ceiling to go up to S$16,000; Executive condos ceiling to S$18,000 NDR 2026: Working parents to get up to 12 days of childcare leave National Day Rally 2026: PM Wong to speak on supporting families, navigating global changes