MOM to make three ‘strategic shifts’ to better serve Singaporeans: Tan See Leng
The rise of artificial intelligence, rapid technological advancements and global uncertainty will reshape jobs, skills and business operations, said Manpower Minister Tan See Leng.
To prepare for these trends and better serve Singapore and Singaporeans, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will be making three strategic shifts, he said.
The ministry will do more to empower the workforce to access good job opportunities, while building thriving and inclusive workplaces that reflect the changing demographics and strengthening the trust with both workers and businesses, said Dr Tan on April 5 at a dinner to celebrate the ministry’s 70th anniversary.
As the Singapore workforce became more educated, he acknowledged that technological disruptions and global competition have “created new anxieties”.
To alleviate these concerns, Workforce Singapore’s Career Conversion Programmes and the Overseas Markets Immersion Programme are examples of the ministry’s proactive approach in supporting and empowering workers even before they run into employment difficulties.
“And for those who are thrown curveballs in their employment journey through no fault of their own, we introduced the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme to encourage and motivate them to find a well-fitting job,” he added. “And as we speak, preparations are under way. We will roll it out by the middle of this month.”
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Speaking to guests of the dinner at Shangri-La Singapore, Dr Tan said: “We are constantly thinking ahead – because a decade from now, I truly believe the world of work will be very different.”
In a global economy where there is intense competition for talent, he stressed that manpower must be an “offensive strategy”.
“Where talent goes, businesses follow. Where talent thrives, investments flow. And where there is growth, talent is not just seeded but sowed,” he said.
“We can always do more, and we can always do better. But I believe that we can be proud of what we have achieved over the past seven decades.”
He added that MOM must ensure that economic growth is not just robust but it has to be inclusive by creating opportunities for all Singaporeans to participate meaningfully in the economy through good jobs.
Dr Tan highlighted the implications of a “super-aged” society on the workforce, noting that by 2030, around one in four citizens will be aged 65 and above.
“More of them will have to take on caregiving responsibilities. That is why MOM has been working with employers to adopt Flexible Work Arrangements,” he said. It is also progressively raising the retirement and re-employment ages to 65 and 70 respectively by 2030.
Tripartism – which is the three-way partnership between unions, employers and the Government – is a unique competitive advantage for Singapore, he said, adding that getting employers and unions to work together is one way of ensuring the competitiveness of the workforce.
The dinner was attended by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and former Manpower Ministers Josephine Teo, S. Jayakumar, Lee Yock Suan, Lee Boon Yang and Tan Chuan-Jin.
Singapore has come a long way from a nascent nation – where unemployment was in double digits, wages were low and industrial unrest hindered progress – to a nation with one of the best workforces in the world, said MOM in a press release on April 5. The release cited various statistics on the progress of the Singapore labour market.
As of 2024, Singapore has one of the lowest unemployment rates at less than 3 per cent and a high labour force participation rate of almost 70 per cent compared to other developed countries such as Canada and Britain.
Singapore’s median monthly gross income from employment, including employer CPF, of full-time employed residents has increased from $1,950 in 1996 to $5,500 in 2024.
During the dinner, MOM unveiled a refreshed logo, keeping the three strokes that symbolise tripartism. The current logo has been in place since 1998.
The ministry also launched a commemorative book titled Charting Our Path – its first official anniversary book over the past 70 years – to document its major milestones. It recounts the conditions for industrial peace in Singapore’s pre-independence years and captures how it prepares the workforce with the skills needed to support economic growth. THE STRAITS TIMES
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
