PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong lauded women here yesterday for having made tremendous progress in the last few decades, and for their contributions to Singapore's development.

But their advancement has brought unintended and worrying consequences, including late marriage and falling marriage and birth rates, he said.

"The Government has been watching these trends with growing concern, and has been taking baby steps to do something about this," he said, speaking to 600 women leaders at a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Women Leaders Network yesterday.

The Government has introduced measures to encourage parenthood, such as longer maternity leave and baby bonuses, but, despite these, the total fertility rate has remained at a very low 1.28.

Mr Lee said: "What this means is one husband, one wife, 1.28 children. Next generation, 0.64 husband, 0.64 wife, and we are disappearing.

"So, we are far below replacement level."

The Prime Minister is the second senior Cabinet minister to speak about this issue.

Just three days ago, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong listed falling marriage and birth rates as one of the 10 challenges that Singapore faces.

Yesterday, Mr Lee noted that education has helped more women enter universities, work in senior positions and participate in politics.

For example, women now make up 55 per cent of the university intake here.

The proportion of Members of Parliament who are female has also increased from less than 5 per cent to almost a quarter now.

This has made women more financially independent and more inclined to prioritise their careers over other aspects of their lives, Mr Lee said.

But some men's attitudes may not have changed quickly enough, resulting in a mismatch of men and women's expectations.

So Singaporeans are marrying late, or not at all.

And when they do get married, they have fewer children.

The problems are not unique to Singapore and the country does not have all the solutions, Mr Lee said yesterday, but "like everyone else, we have to evolve with the times, and we hope to learn from one another".

He said that the Government would continue to encourage pro-family policies and flexi-work arrangements.

"Perhaps, eventually, we will find a new formula in society which enables young people to fulfil their aspirations and, at the same time, have families and children, and live complete, fulfilling lives," he added.

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