Since the launch of the Forward Singapore exercise in June 2022, over 14,000 Singaporeans from all walks of life have participated in about 140 engagement sessions on a wide range of topics. Beyond these sessions, many more of you have shared your views and ideas through surveys and other feedback tools. Thank you to everyone who has come forward to participate so far!

Across the conversations, Singaporeans acknowledged that we are living in a time of change and must relook our current way of doing things. We are emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic into a more uncertain world. Big-power tensions are sending ripples globally. At home, our aspirations are evolving, and we face pressures like a rapidly ageing population and slowing social mobility. All these place more stressors on our society and our people.

Through the Forward Singapore exercise, Singaporeans are exploring the values, priorities, and policies needed to strengthen our social compact for the next bound of our nation’s journey. 

From the engagements to date, some common values that our people hold dear have emerged: fairness, inclusiveness, and giving back. Singaporeans also offered varied suggestions, ranging from how we might broaden pathways to success and ensure greater opportunities for all, to strengthening assurance for workers and families.

These feedback and recommendations informed the thinking behind the five key shifts DPM Wong said Forward Singapore will embark on to refresh our social compact (see DPM’s speech at the Debate on the President’s Address 2023).

• A new approach on skills
• A new definition of success
• A new approach for social support
• A new approach to care for our seniors
• A new emphasis on collective responsibility

Effecting these shifts will help secure a stronger social compact between this generation and future generations to come.

The Government has also rolled out some policy changes in this year’s Budget Statement and Committee of Supply debate.

You can read more detailed findings and related announcements across the six Forward Singapore pillars here.

In the next phase of Forward Singapore, there will be more engagements to discuss specific issues, and more partnership opportunities for Singaporeans to co-create policy solutions with the Government. Come be a part of it – your contributions will enrich and strengthen the eventual recommendations of Forward Singapore and our shared future.

The exercise will conclude in the second half of 2023 with the Forward Singapore report. This report will articulate our collective vision for Singapore and offer recommendations for how you and I can come together to realise it.

Together, we can build a better and brighter Singapore.