August 19, 2024
SINGAPORE – New parents will have more paid leave while lower- and middle-income workers who lose their jobs will get temporary financial help, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as he outlined his vision for a refreshed Singapore dream.
In his maiden National Day Rally speech on Aug 18, PM Wong said the nation has reached a stage where everyone wants a Singapore where people thrive on their own terms, in ways that are less prescribed and determined; and where people support one another.
“Realising our new ambitions will require a major reset – a major reset in policies, to be sure; but also a reset in our attitudes,” he said.
PM Wong also pledged to look after various groups of Singaporeans, including the elderly, families and lower-income households, while asking for the people’s support in charting a new way forward amid an uncertain geopolitical environment.
The policy shifts will unfold over several years, he said, adding: “To achieve our shared goals, I need your help. Because making the lasting changes we are aiming for will require a mindset shift in all of us.”
PM Wong, who was sworn in as Singapore’s fourth head of government in May, said he has not changed, despite the bigger responsibility.
“I may be Prime Minister. But I’m also a fellow citizen and friend, sharing the same experiences and concerns as all of you,” he said in his address to the nation in Malay, Mandarin and English at ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio.
“I am here to serve you and our country and I pledge to give my all to this endeavour.”
As Singapore writes the next chapter of its story, the country will have to contend with profound changes such as the intensifying rivalry between America and China, rapid technological disruptions and climate change, he said.
Recounting how founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew had once said the country needs a government that is both prudent and bold, PM Wong said his team will adopt the same approach.
“We will be prudent. To honour and respect the past, to uphold the fundamentals that have served us well, and remain relevant to us. But we must and we will be bold.”
He added that the Government will look for fresh and better solutions, and choose the best way forward for Singapore.
One such shift is the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme to help lower- and middle-income workers who are involuntarily unemployed, for instance when they are retrenched or their companies go bust.
This scheme, first announced at the 2023 Rally, will provide temporary financial support for such workers – up to a total of $6,000 over a period of up to six months.
These workers will also have to do their part, by going for training, career coaching and job matching services, said PM Wong.
Manpower Minister Tan See Leng will provide more details about the scheme later.
Another key pillar of the speech centred on support for families, through more paternity leave and shared parental leave.
While paternity leave had been doubled from two to four weeks earlier in 2024, the additional time was voluntarily offered by employers.
From April 1, 2025, this will become mandatory, said PM Wong.
He also announced that parents will get an additional 10 weeks of shared parental leave, which can be utilised by fathers or mothers.
This will replace the current arrangement where husbands can share up to four weeks of their wives’ 16 weeks of maternity leave.
The new initiative will start with six weeks for babies born from April 1, 2025, and be increased to the full 10 weeks a year later, said PM Wong, as he stressed the need for a change in mindsets.
“Some of us still believe that fathers should be the exclusive breadwinners, and mothers, the main caregivers. That has to change,” he said.
PM Wong also called for attitudinal shifts in education, noting that while Singapore has a solid education system, it is also competitive and can lead to anxiety, pressure and stress.
“It’s important to refocus on the objectives of education: it’s about sparking a joy for learning; and helping every child realise their full potential,” he said.
Moves have been made in recent years to improve the education system, such as changes to the Primary School Leaving Examination scoring system and the removal of streaming – policies once termed as “sacred cows” by observers that have since seen new approaches.
Another longstanding policy will be updated after 40 years.
PM Wong said the current form of the Gifted Education Programme in primary schools will be discontinued, and replaced with a new approach that will equip all primary schools with their own programmes to stretch their own high-ability learners.
“This is a significant change. But it is also consistent with our philosophy in education… Whatever the start points, we will help everyone to learn, develop and grow, and realise your full potential,” said PM Wong.
Harking back to one of the themes of the Forward Singapore conversations, he also stressed the Government’s commitment to providing multiple pathways to success.
PM Wong said he wants to see a Singapore “where we don’t pigeonhole, or typecast, people based on their backgrounds or the schools they go to”.
“Where everyone can strive and excel, take pride in what they do, and be recognised for their efforts and work. Together we can make this happen.”
Turning to housing, he acknowledged the concerns of many Singaporeans about housing prices.
The Government is pressing on with efforts to make flats more affordable, he said, announcing that the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant will be increased, in particular for lower-income groups. The grant currently gives eligible first-timer families up to $80,000 to buy their new or resale flat.
“This is my assurance to all young Singaporeans… we will make sure that there is an HDB flat that is within your budget, in every region. We will always keep public housing in Singapore affordable for you,” he said.
On the infrastructure front, PM Wong unveiled the Kallang Alive Masterplan that is meant to unlock the full potential of the Sports Hub and the surrounding area, and strengthen the sporting culture in Singapore.
This includes building a new indoor arena, moving the Sports School over from Woodlands, consolidating the national training centres for several key sports under one roof, and having a community boulevard with sporting facilities and programmes.
Concluding his speech, PM Wong reiterated his belief that Singapore’s best days lie ahead of it.
“We have new ambitions to pursue. We are taking bold steps to turn our hopes into reality. We can be a society where every citizen is respected, every voice is heard, every dream is nurtured,” he said.
“We can be a nation where everyone can flourish, thrive, and be the best possible version of ourselves.”
Watch PM Wong’s National Day Rally speech here: