A NEW report marking the conclusion of the Forward Singapore (Forward SG) exercise sets out seven policy shifts, with details of related initiatives to come in the following months and Budget 2024.

The shifts include respecting and rewarding every job, such as by reducing wage gaps, and supporting families, including possible further increases to paid parental leave.

The Forward SG report was launched at the Forward SG Festival on Friday (Oct 27) by Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Though the exercise is over, a new Singapore Government Partnerships Office will lead future engagements, facilitating partnerships between Singaporeans and the government.

The seven key shifts were developed from the suggestions of some 200,000 Singaporeans, whom the fourth-generation (4G) leadership engaged over 16 months through 275 partnerships and engagement sessions.

Wong told reporters at a briefing: “What we have put together provides a roadmap for us, not just as a 4G team or as a government, but really for all of Singapore to work together and chart our way forward in an environment that will be more uncertain, more challenging.”

The next steps, he said, involve translating the roadmap into “concrete action, policies and results”.

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Some of the policy moves have already been announced – such as greater support for adult education and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) graduates – moves that Wong had mentioned at the annual dinner of the Economic Society of Singapore in September.

The job-related shift also involves “a new support scheme to help involuntarily unemployed jobseekers in the lower- and middle-income groups bounce back stronger” – an initiative that was previously discussed at length by the government and the labour movement.

This shift is necessary, given that the concept of having just one career in one’s lifetime may no longer hold true amid the “alarming” pace of disruptions, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said at the same briefing. “A large component of that scheme will come in the form of... pegging it to upskilling and retraining,” he said, adding that details will be announced at Budget 2024.

Another key shift is in embracing learning beyond grades: giving every child a good start, broadening the definition of merit, and developing more diverse pathways.

The shift to support families includes keeping Housing Board flats affordable and fair, more support for mental well-being and work-life harmony, and help for caregivers and parents of infants.

The fourth shift is encouraging active ageing in the community, to be facilitated by programmes such as Healthier SG and Age Well SG. The community-based aged-care system will be strengthened, and seniors’ living environment will be improved.

The fifth shift involves empowering those in need: uplifting lower-income families, closing the gaps for children from such families, and becoming more inclusive for persons with disabilities.

Sixth is investing in a “shared tomorrow”. This refers to long-term planning to secure a climate-resilient future, strengthening food and water security, and upholding fiscal prudence for the needs of both today and the next generation.

The final key shift is having Singaporeans do their part as “one united people”. This means nurturing a stronger culture of giving, strengthening the country’s multi-racialism, and creating more avenues for civic participation.

All these key shifts are meant to foster a society that is “vibrant and inclusive”, “fair and thriving” and “resilient and united”, based on what Forward SG participants said they hope to see.

DPM Wong said that these elements make up the “Singapore Dream” that Forward SG participants have said is more than just about material success: “It’s also about sense of fulfilment and meaning, and about contributing to a larger purpose and the common good.”

Asked about the biggest departure for the government from the way things are being done currently, Wong said the government recognises that it would have to do more to support Singaporeans and provide assurances in this phase, when there are more disruptions. This would require a lot more resources, but he noted that “this additional spending will be necessary”.

He added that rather than a “top-down approach”, the government is looking to co-create solutions with Singaporeans through consultations and engagements.

Responding to the report, the labour movement said that it supports Forward Singapore’s commitment to create more opportunities for Singaporeans to chart their own paths.

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) noted that several key recommendations in its #EveryWorkerMatters Conversations had been considered in Forward SG.

These include targeted support for involuntarily unemployed jobseekers, training allowances for mature mid-career workers and encouraging more employers to introduce workplace support for caregivers.