Cost of enlisting women into NS, even in non-military roles, far outweighs benefits: Ng Eng Hen

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enlisting women into NS would delay their entry into the workforce, and this would have the immediate effect of accentuating a decline in the local manpower pool and a reduction of household incomes.

Even if women are enlisted for non-military national service roles to augment our healthcare and social services, it may make manpower shortages in other industries worse

called for NS to be made gender-neutral, and expanded beyond the traditional domains of the army, navy, air force and police

It is very far off from the proposals to conscript women to serve in roles such as caregivers and healthcare workers, or to send a signal, a powerful signal, of gender equality

While he acknowledged that birth rates have continued to fall, Dr Ng said the use of technology and the optimisation of resources have produced a modern SAF that is more lethal and effective despite a smaller number of soldiers.