Gov’t wants full support of businesses, unionists in ‘Forward Singapore’

Forward Singapore seeks to refresh the country’s social compact.

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the government is seeking full support from businesses, unionists, and fellow Singaporeans on implementing “Forward Singapore,” which will review and refresh the market’s social compact.

In his speech at the Forward Singapore launch, Wong said it is necessary to boost the country’s social compact to ensure that all will benefit from opportunities to face future headwinds. These opportunities include education, healthcare, and housing.

“A social compact that is deemed fair by all segments of society will strengthen social capital and foster trust, and this is what will enable us to progress together as a nation,” said Wong, who is also the finance minister.

“This is why it is so important for us to refresh and update our social compact so that it remains fit for our changing context and circumstances,” he added.

The pillars of Forward Singapore are lifelong employability for Singaporeans, education and lifelong learning, health and social support, home and living environment, environmental and fiscal sustainability, as well as Singapore identity.

He also noted that the 4G leadership team, which he will lead, will create a roadmap for the next ten years and beyond to build this social compact.

At the same time, he admitted that enforcing Forward Singapore is not an easy task as it will also require groups to “reflect their anxieties.”

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“I hope we can all approach this with open minds and big hearts, be willing to give and take, as we negotiate difficult trade-offs so we may arrive at where we want to be, stronger and more united than when we started,” said Wong.