Forward Singapore

THE nationwide Forward Singapore exercise, which aims to review and refresh the country's social compact, will be organised along 6 pillars, each headed by ...

SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Tuesday (Jun 28) launched a year-long exercise that will "review and refresh Singapore's social compact".

So we know in our guts it cannot be business-as-usual," said the Deputy Prime Minister. And what are our obligations as individuals to one another and to society at large?" "What should the Government, employers and the community do for workers and individuals? It's about the respective roles and responsibilities of various groups," said Mr Wong, who is also the Finance Minister. Known as Forward Singapore, the exercise will be led by Mr Wong and the fourth generation, or 4G, leadership team. Advertisement

In launching Forward Singapore on Tuesday (June 28), Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that the new year-long public consultation exercise is aimed ...

Sometimes, those who do not meet the traditional yardsticks of merit may find opportunities closed to them. Economically, we are in better shape than most. We are fortunate to have inherited a well-endowed Singapore. We owe this to the foresight and prudence of past generations. This way, we can accord these workers a greater sense of dignity and sufficiency in life, and the opportunity to continue to improve their lives. For example, how can we get employers to hire and promote staff, not just on the basis of credentials, not because of a piece of paper, but on the basis of their skills and actual work performance? The most important change is not something that the Government can legislate into reality: We must all, as a society, learn to value the contributions of every worker in every profession and every field. In fact, I made a series of moves in the Budget this year to do this, and we will continue to study what more needs to be done. Together, we developed our unique tripartite system. How can each of us contribute? Together, we’ve uplifted generations of Singaporeans. We are still creating many new jobs, thanks to the investments that we have been able to attract from overseas, as well as the growth of our own companies and the skills of our workers. Thank you very much!

DPM Wong outlined four key areas where the social compact can evolve: the economy, meritocracy, social support and solidarity.

Third, technological and economic disruptions call for a review of whether current social support is adequate. We need to turn challenges into opportunities, and find the silver lining in whatever comes our way. “If our social compact fails, a large segment of Singaporeans will come to feel estranged from the rest of society, believing the system is not on their side. These are his hopes for the future, but he cannot make this a reality alone. “Sometimes, those who do not meet the traditional yardsticks of merit may find opportunities closed to them. This is what enables us to progress together as a nation.” Earlier, he had announced that the 4G team will embark on an exercise to “review and refresh [Singapore’s] social compact, and chart a roadmap for the next decade and beyond.” It’s about the respective roles and responsibilities of various groups,” explained DPM Wong. As such, there has been “mounting anxieties” among many of being displaced by others. Economically, we are in a better shape than most,” he remarked. What can we do now to secure the future we hope for? How can each of us contribute to this process?”