In a commentary, SMU Presidential Assistant Professor of Anthropology Al Lim opined that dating services such as FirstDate, a Government Technology Agency (GovTech) pilot launched on 29 September 2026 for public officers aged 21 to 35, overlook the real barrier to romance: time, not information. Citing a 2019 National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) survey in which two in three singles said they needed more time and energy for dating, he suggested reducing after-hours work messages and allowing longer lunch breaks. He added that private employers could adopt similar measures, noting that a 2021 NPTD survey found 92% of married respondents were more likely to join an organisation offering flexible work arrangements, while 94% were more likely to stay. With Singapore’s labour market still relatively tight, Asst Prof Lim argued that predictable working hours and protected personal time are valuable employee benefits that give romance room to develop.