National Day Rally 2026: A Changed World. A Stronger Singapore.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announces major reset in family support

He says every Singaporean child will get almost $70,000 in direct financial help

By Ng Wei Kai, The Straits Times, 24 Aug 2026

Parents will get more childcare leave, greater financial support and pay lower preschool fees, as the country makes a fundamental shift in how it supports families.

The Government wants to support parents more consistently throughout the journey of raising their children, instead of concentrating help mainly around the birth of a child, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at his third National Day Rally.

Measures to make it easier for Singaporeans who want children to raise a family formed a key plank of PM Wong’s speech, in which he outlined other plans to equip Singapore to deal with rapid changes in technology and the global order.

These include merging several islands south of Jurong Island to create one larger island that can house new power generation infrastructure, putting in place more safeguards for tech use and adoption, and embracing integration to remain open and connected while retaining a Singaporean core.

Addressing about 1,300 guests at ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio on Aug 23, PM Wong said that across the globe, the rules and norms that underpinned stability and prosperity for decades are being overturned.

One key reason is that the balance of power is shifting. While the US remains the world’s leading power, China has risen rapidly and is now a “peer competitor” with deep capabilities in many areas, he said.

Many middle powers are also asserting their interests more actively, with different centres jostling for influence and competing for markets, technology, and resources, he added.

The world is more contested, unstable and dangerous than before, and this is the new normal that Singapore will have to endure and survive for many years to come, PM Wong said.

The Government’s immediate priority has been to “steady the ship”, he said, citing two support packages totalling almost $2 billion that were announced in April and July to help households and businesses cope with rising costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

But Singapore must go beyond that and prepare for deeper changes to come, PM Wong said, as he pledged to give families greater support and confidence for the future.

He announced that every working parent will get 8 to 12 days of childcare leave, depending on the number of children aged 12 and below they have. More details will be given at a later date.

Every Singaporean child will also get nearly $70,000 in direct financial support, while full-day childcare fees will be lowered to $150 a month by 2030.

Turning to housing, PM Wong said the income ceiling for Build-to-Order (BTO) flats will be raised to $16,000, and to $18,000 for executive condominiums.

This is to ensure the vast majority of Singaporean couples will continue to have access to subsidised public housing, he said.

Families applying for their first flat will also get one additional ballot chance for every child they have or are expecting, he added.

These moves are part of the first tranche of recommendations from a workgroup that aims to reset Singapore’s approach to marriage and parenthood, PM Wong said. The workgroup, led by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, was formed in April after the nation’s total fertility rate (TFR) fell to a new low of 0.87 in 2025.

“We want every family to know: if you choose to have children, the Government will stand with you. We will provide more support, and over more years,” he said.

More measures will be shared in the coming months, including at the Government’s next Budget in 2027, he added.

PM Wong said the Government’s work does not stop with those raising young children, with more to be done for seniors, people with disabilities and singles.

“We are putting real resources behind all of these plans because supporting families and Singaporeans through every stage of life is a national priority,” he said.

Looking longer term, the Prime Minister sketched out plans spanning decades that will create more land and options for future generations of Singaporeans.

Recounting how Jurong Island was created and turned into a global energy and chemicals hub, he said Singapore plans to merge several smaller islands off its southern coast, including Pulau Semakau, Pulau Bukom and Pulau Sudong, into a new western island.

This new island can support a new generation of industries, including advanced manufacturing facilities, and accommodate new power generation infrastructure to meet Singapore’s future needs as well as defence uses, he added.

A new link will be built to connect Jurong Island to the new western island.

The Government will also explore the feasibility of building undersea tunnels to connect Pulau Tekong – which is used mainly for military training – with the mainland, and reclaim land to integrate the resort island Sentosa with nearby Pulau Brani.

PM Wong said these plans will require resources, planning and investment over many terms of government.

“Our pioneers built Jurong Island long before anyone could see what it could become,” he said. “They planned and built for our generation and now we will do so for the generations that follow.”

He also set out how Singapore will deal with accelerating technological change.

The country has to guard against risks that are harder to predict, he said, citing developments like a recent case where an AI agent broke into a company’s systems.

PM Wong said Singapore will do its part to bring countries and companies together, and build coalitions around practical safeguards. It will also take action at home, he added.

To shield young social media users, social media platforms will be required to put in place robust and reliable checks so that the minimum age to use them – 13 for most platforms – is properly set and enforced, PM Wong said.

For teenagers above 13, the Government’s immediate priority is to make social media safer by design, he added.

It will require stronger safeguards for young users against features that keep them endlessly scrolling, clicking and coming back for more.

If a platform’s safeguards remain inadequate, the Government will consider additional restrictions – including raising the minimum age for access to that platform beyond 13, he said.

Turning to immigration and the need for Singapore to remain open, PM Wong gave assurances that the Government will ensure Singaporeans remain the “majority in our own country”.

Even as more is done to support families, Singapore must be realistic that its TFR will still likely fall “far short” of the replacement rate, PM Wong said. The rate, where a population is reproducing enough to replace itself, is around 2.1.

He noted that for many years, Singapore has supplemented its population by welcoming new citizens.

The Government’s aim is to refresh the citizen population at a measured and sustainable pace, he said.

While it welcomes foreign manpower to complement the local workforce and support the economy, it will do so in a careful and controlled way, he added.

This means that Singapore’s overall population and labour force will grow more slowly in the coming years.

While businesses often ask the Government to ease foreign worker policies, especially in the services sector, PM Wong said even a modest easing could lead to a significant increase in the number of workers. “That’s not the path we want to take. So we have to adapt to these realities,” he added.

Going forward, more of Singapore’s growth must come from technology and productivity – and from enabling every Singaporean to realise their full potential, he said.

PM Wong also said the Government will continue to broadly maintain Singapore’s current ethnic balance, even as it stays open.

“Singaporeans must feel that the Singapore we know and cherish will endure,” he said.

At the same time, it will keep working at integration. Newcomers must make every effort to fit in, and Singaporeans must also reach out with open hearts, he added.

Concluding, PM Wong said the years ahead will test the country in new ways, and it can choose how it responds.

“We face challenges with courage and grit. We adapt instead of standing still. We stand together instead of turning on one another. That is who we are.”

Healthcare financing in Singapore: Healthcare spending could hit $30 billion a year by 2030 says Health Minister Ong Ye Kung

The Price of Good Health

Healthcare that is affordable, accessible and high quality comes at a price. Salma Khalik finds out how Singapore is striking the right balance.

The Straits Times, 10 Apr 2025

Spending on healthcare in Singapore could soon become the single biggest item in the Government’s coffers, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, as he assured Singaporeans that their basic healthcare needs will continue to be affordable.

In 2025, the Government has set aside $20.9 billion for health, second only to spending on defence, which has a budget of $23.4 billion.

Citing the trajectory of government healthcare expenditure, which had gone up from $9 billion in 2015, the year he joined politics, to $18 billion in 2024, Mr Ong predicted that by 2030, it would likely be close to $30 billion a year.

A lot of the money will go towards building more facilities, including new hospitals, nursing homes and community care centres, and for manpower costs.

But a substantial portion will be spent on subsidies to keep costs down for patients.

“We can make it affordable to the patient, but there’s no doubt that with an older population, healthcare expenditure, whether by the Government or nationally, is going to go up,” he told The Straits Times in an exclusive interview.

Older people not only tend to get sick more frequently, but they are also more sick and stay longer in hospitals as many have more than one medical condition.

Mr Ong said: “You’re seeing a lot more older patients coming in, not because of very severe diseases, but due to infections. Because they are old, there is underlying illness after Covid-19. They are more frail and one infection is all it takes for them to be in the ICU (intensive care unit).”

As a result, the average length of stay in public hospitals has gone up, from 6.1 days in 2019 to seven days by 2022. This represents a 15 per cent increase in patient load, he added. While this trend worries him, Mr Ong is confident that the quality of healthcare for patients in the future will not suffer as a result of the higher demand.

Even as the quality of healthcare here has been getting better over the years, with advances in medical science and technology, he said the Government will continue to enhance the definition of basic healthcare, which it has always promised will remain affordable. As an example, he pointed to the announcement that from October, MediShield Life will start covering treatments using cell, tissue and gene therapy products.

These are individualised treatments tailored to a person’s specific medical problem, some of which were previously untreatable. As each treatment is designed and produced for a specific patient, the cost is high.

The move marks an “inflection point” for basic healthcare here, said Mr Ong. In spite of the high cost, he said “we decided that this is the way to go” because today, if there is an available treatment, people expect to have access to it.

“At some point, that becomes people’s expectation. So we have to start embracing this,” he said.

This is one reason why a large part of government expenditure will go towards subsidising healthcare costs. People will also have to share in the cost of better care, largely with insurance and their MediSave funds, Mr Ong said.

The good news is that the Government is unlikely to need to raise taxes to pay for the higher healthcare expenditure, he added.

Said Mr Ong: “We expect our GDP (gross domestic product) to grow. So long as the Singapore economy grows, tax receipts will go up. And a big part of it, a significant part of it in future, will be for healthcare.”

Singapore Budget 2025: Onward Together for a Better Tomorrow

PM Lawrence Wong unveils bumper SG60 Budget for all Singaporeans

By Goh Yan Han, The Straits Times, 19 Feb 2025

Every Singaporean will receive something from Budget 2025, from vouchers for all adults to personal income tax rebates, as part of an SG60 package.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Feb 18 unveiled what he termed “a Budget for all Singaporeans”, which includes expanding existing schemes to benefit more citizens and greater support for seniors as well as the vulnerable.

He also set out measures to grow Singapore’s economy, help workers upskill and meet its green targets.

The broad suite of measures announced tally up to a record $143.1 billion, an increase from the $134.2 billion spent in the 2024 financial year.

This is about 18.7 per cent of Singapore’s gross domestic product, and is in line with projected trends for government spending that is expected to reach about 20 per cent of GDP by 2030.

The moves are financed by changes to the tax system made earlier in this parliamentary term that put Singapore “on a stronger fiscal footing”, and larger-than-expected revenue collections.

Corporate income tax collections were more than expected in the 2024 financial year. This is now the single largest contributor to total government revenue, higher than the Net Investment Returns Contribution (NIRC), said PM Wong as he set out the Government’s fiscal position. The NIRC refers to the returns on investments of Singapore’s reserves.

He expects a surplus of $6.8 billion, or 0.9 per cent of GDP, for the 2025 financial year.

“When Singapore thrives, every citizen benefits,” said PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister.

“Every Singaporean is supported from birth to old age, with more support given to those with less. No one is left behind.”

PM Wong said the Budget was “shaped together with all Singaporeans”. It lays out the second instalment of plans on the Forward Singapore agenda, which seeks to keep society strong and united.

He noted that Singapore has to navigate a turbulent external environment, with the US and China locked in a fierce contest for global supremacy. Despite the global uncertainties, the Republic can look ahead with a degree of confidence as it is far stronger than it was 60 years ago, he added.

Noting that 2025 marks the country’s 60th year of independence, PM Wong said: “It has been a remarkable journey, reflecting the grit and resilience of generations of Singaporeans in building our nation.”

Something for all Singaporeans

He announced a new SG60 package to recognise the contributions of all Singaporeans and share the benefits of the nation’s progress.

In July, all Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 will receive $600 in SG60 vouchers, while those aged 60 and above will get $800. These vouchers, amounting to about $2 billion, will function like the CDC ones.

Under the package, individuals will also get a 60 per cent personal income tax rebate, capped at $200, for the 2025 year of assessment.

All Singaporean babies born this year will get an SG60 Baby Gift, PM Wong added, among other measures in the package.

The hotly anticipated Budget, which comes ahead of an upcoming general election widely expected by mid-year, also tackles top-of-mind issues for Singaporeans such as cost-of-living pressures and job insecurity.

To alleviate rising costs, PM Wong announced another $800 of CDC vouchers for all Singaporean households, totalling about $1 billion. The first $500 will be given out in May 2025, while the remaining $300 will be issued in January 2026.

He also announced more utility rebates and credits for families with children to defray household expenses.

While inflation is expected to ease further in 2025, PM Wong acknowledged that Singaporeans are still adjusting to new price realities. “We will continue to provide support for as long as needed, within our means,” he said.

To help parents who have or plan to have three or more children, PM Wong detailed a new Large Families Scheme.

The scheme will disburse $16,000 to such families for each third and subsequent child born from Feb 18, and help to cover pre-school and healthcare expenses, as well as household spending.

PM Wong also announced that several schemes will be extended to private property owners, including the climate vouchers programme that all Housing Board households can currently tap to buy energy- and water-efficient household appliances.

HDB households will get an additional $100, on top of the $300 they received last year, while households in private properties will get $400 in climate vouchers.

The Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) scheme that provides subsidised senior-friendly fittings and installations in HDB households will be extended to private property households up to 2028, said PM Wong.

Supporting workers, securing the future

While the Government has taken measures to mitigate the impact of rising costs, the best way in the longer term to adjust to higher prices is to grow the economy and increase productivity, he said.

Dedicating a significant portion of his Budget speech to new moves to grow the economy, he announced more funding for research and development and a new $1 billion fund to provide more financing options for high-growth local enterprises.

At the same time, workers must be equipped with the skills needed to stay competitive and relevant, said PM Wong.

He said that the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, announced in 2024 to support mid-career Singaporeans who are upskilling full-time, will also be extended to part-time training.

The Workfare Skills Support scheme, which currently covers short courses for lower-wage workers, will have an enhanced tier of support that covers longer-form courses, he added.

The Prime Minister also outlined measures to support more vulnerable groups of workers, including older workers, former offenders looking to reintegrate into society, and people with disabilities.

PM Wong said the Budget also lays the groundwork for the country to become stronger and more resilient.

It includes measures to tackle climate change, like a $5 billion top-up to the Coastal and Flood Protection Fund. The fund covers long-term plans such as land reclamation for Long Island and structures like sea walls and tidal gates.

Singapore will need to have its own domestic sources of clean power to ensure greater energy resilience, PM Wong said, adding that the country will study the potential deployment of nuclear power and take further steps to systematically build up capabilities in this area.

Apart from plans to access more sources of clean energy, the Government will accelerate efforts to decarbonise the transport sector, he said.

It will roll out a new emissions scheme and electric charging grant to incentivise the purchase of clean energy variants of heavy vehicles. Adoption of such vehicles has been slower compared with that of electric and hybrid cars.

Singapore will continue to improve its public transport system, said PM Wong, noting that $60 billion will be invested in this decade to grow and renew the rail network.

“We are continuing to study how our rail network can be expanded,” he added.

Concluding his speech, PM Wong said Singaporeans have to brace themselves for new challenges in the next phase of nation building.

The country has confronted tough external circumstances repeatedly over the past six decades, and “we can draw confidence from what we have been through together”, he added.

At every turn, Singaporeans have chosen determination over despair, innovation over stagnation, and solidarity over division, said PM Wong.

“Budget 2025 sets out clear plans for us to continue this journey with confidence.”

No one to share the load when mum and dad get sick

Unlike in larger families where caregiving load can be spread out, an only child faces immense stress and is more likely to suffer burnout

By Elizabeth Law, Correspondent, The Straits Times, 28 Sep 2024

On a Tuesday afternoon at a coffee shop in Ang Mo Kio, Mr Glenn Poh returns to his waiting mother with two drinks: one hot and one iced. She picks the iced lemon tea.

“All my life she never used to drink cold drinks but now, she always wants something iced. It’s like she’s a small kid again,” he says of his 74-year-old mother, Madam Tan Sow Meng, who has Alzheimer’s disease.

As the only son, Mr Poh took it upon himself to look after her, personally navigating the twists and turns of caring for an ailing parent.

“Whatever needs to be done needs to be done. It’s because I was raised like this,” he says. Having seen how his mother cared for his late father after a stroke, he knew he wanted to do the same for her.

In Singapore, with its rapidly ageing population and cultural norms of filial piety, many adult children find themselves thrust into the role of caregivers.

Life can be put on hold when mum or dad falls ill, and those without siblings or other home help can find themselves shouldering the whole load.

Data shows there were at least 128,800 only children with mothers above the age of 50 in 2023, more than triple the 39,800 in 2003.

In a population of 5.92 million, 1.36 million people have mothers above the age of 50. While the number of only children is just a fraction of that total, researchers and social workers warn that unlike in larger families where the caregiving load can be spread out, only children face immense stress. Among other health challenges, they are more likely to experience burnout.

A stout man with a buzz cut dressed casually in a polo shirt, shorts and sliders, Mr Poh, 44, is unfailingly polite. He says “thank you” or “pai seh” (Hokkien for “sorry to bother”) to anyone he interacts with, and thanks The Straits Times team profusely at each of our three interviews.

He talks about his days in a methodical way, ticking off each activity as if going down a list. He says drawing up lists and “standard operating procedures” helps him find structure amid the uncertainty and constantly evolving nature of his mother’s condition.

But ask him about challenging moments, and his upper lip quivers.

The week before, rather than take her shower at the usual time, his mother fussed around with throwing away rubbish and lighting the oil lamp at the family altar.

“I shouted at her, and I asked her to go and take a bath, which she did. By the time she came out of the bathroom, I apologised but she didn’t remember. I regret it when I lose my temper with her because she cannot remember,” he says, tearing up.

“So it’s not a good feeling. Because you did something wrong, but you’re not able to make up for it.”

He admits this often happened in the initial stages, especially when he had unrealistic expectations about his mother’s condition, and became frustrated that he could not do more to help her.

Government looking into cost-of-living concerns, taking better care of seniors: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong

100 days as PM: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's press conference with local media on 23 August 2024

Govt studying how to tackle cost-of-living concerns, take better care of seniors: PM Wong

More help for larger families, needs of sandwiched group being explored

By Wong Pei Ting, Correspondent, The Straits Times, 24 Aug 2024

Tackling cost-of-living concerns and taking better care of seniors are two key areas of focus for the Government, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Aug 23.

In a press conference five days after his maiden National Day Rally speech, PM Wong said he is looking into longer-term care for seniors and their housing needs. This is a big issue that will continue to grow as more people age, he noted while outlining what Singaporeans can expect in the months ahead.

Besides helping older seniors who are in their 70s or 80s, there will also be support for their children – younger seniors who are entering or in their 50s and feel “sandwiched” with both ageing parents and children to look after, he said.

On cost-of-living concerns, PM Wong said his Government is looking at doling out more help to specific segments of the population, including those with larger families and more young children, where “costs add up quite quickly”.

Such additional support will add to broad-based schemes such as CDC vouchers, and cost-of-living payouts and U-Save rebates that target the lower- and middle-income groups.

During the press conference at the National Press Centre in Hill Street – PM Wong’s first after he took office as Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15 – he said there are different aspects to the cost-of-living issue, which is a major concern.

There are day-to-day expenses such as groceries, food and daily essentials, as well as big-ticket items like housing, he noted.

Asked if the Government will provide more CDC vouchers, given that the $300 in vouchers to be disbursed in January 2025 is less than the $800 given to each Singaporean household in 2024, PM Wong replied: “We haven’t had the 2025 Budget yet. That’s next year.”

PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, added: “So whether or not there will be more CDC vouchers, I think everyone should just wait and see what is in the Budget announcement.”

The Government will continue to review how best to provide appropriate support, whether through broad-based or targeted measures, he added. “And we will do so in the Budget in 2025.”

At the rally on Aug 18, PM Wong had set out a major reset of policies, which included granting more paid leave for new parents, giving temporary financial help to lower- and middle-income workers who lose their jobs, and updating the Gifted Education Programme.

PM Wong said he had sought to flesh out, in more concrete terms, the aspirations and hopes that Singaporeans have shared during the Forward Singapore engagement exercise.

These are underpinned by two key pillars, he said – a renewed social compact and a refreshed Singapore Dream.

The renewed social compact relates to how all Singaporeans will get support despite their setbacks in life and get a fair shot in life, said PM Wong.

“At the same time, everyone has to do their part, work hard, make the effort to excel and uplift their families,” he said.

“If they do that, the Government will be there to support them every step of the way and help them to get ahead,” he added.

PM Wong said the refreshed Singapore Dream relates to how Singaporeans can find their own paths and not have to compare with one another.

“We can all be the best possible versions of ourselves,” he said. “In other words, we can thrive and flourish on our own terms and in ways that are less prescribed and more open.”

Realising these two shared goals requires a “major reset” of certain policies, attitudes and mindsets, he said.

Besides studying measures to help seniors and to address cost-of-living concerns, PM Wong said, his Government is also looking out for other issues that Singaporeans care about.

This is why regular engagement with Singaporeans is a very important aspect of his work, he added.

Since taking office, he has embarked on visits to several districts across the island. These are “very good opportunities for me to meet residents and to hear first-hand their perspectives and feedback”, he said.

PM Wong noted that he had previously committed to hold press conferences from time to time to share his thoughts with Singaporeans through the media.

He said he thought it useful to hold a press conference at this juncture, to take stock of what his Government has done and what is next on the agenda.

He also said he will continue to hold dialogues with different segments of society, and engage Singaporeans through social media and press conferences such as this one.

These engagements can help everyone see a common picture of why the Government is embarking on certain plans, where the nation is heading towards, and what everyone can do in big and small ways to realise a shared vision, he added.

“This is the commitment from me and my team,” he said.

“We are here to listen to you, understand first-hand your concerns, hopes and dreams, and build a stronger, more meaningful connection with every Singaporean.”

Asked if he had met his priorities after 100 days in office, PM Wong said his key priority after taking over was to think about the new directions that his Government would set to take Singapore forward in its next lap, and what that would mean for Singaporeans.

He took reference from the Forward Singapore exercise, and the rally was where he sought to “crystallise” these shared ambitions in clearer and more concrete terms, he added.

On the foreign policy front, PM Wong said he will, in the months ahead, visit more Asean countries before making trips to the country’s key partners outside of South-east Asia.

He is also set to attend a few international summits, including the Asean Summit in Laos from Oct 6 to 11, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru in November, and the Group of 20 summit in Brazil from Nov 18 to 19.

PM Wong said it is important for him to meet leaders of other countries in his new capacity to establish good personal relations with them, as this will set the tone for Singapore’s overall relationship with those countries.

PM Wong also said he will find future occasions to elaborate on Singapore’s foreign policy and the external environment.

“It’s important for me to engage Singaporeans on these issues because I think everyone needs to understand what’s at stake, especially on critical issues where our collective security and fundamental interests are involved,” he said.

“We must be able to come together as one people, despite our differences and perspectives, and take a common, pro-Singapore position to advance our national interest together.”

National Day Rally 2024: A Singapore Where We Realise Our Dreams

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong sets out major reset of policies and his vision for Singapore

By Goh Yan Han, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 19 Aug 2024

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.”

National Day Message 2024: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong promises more support for families, help with employment setbacks

More support for families, help for Singaporeans facing employment setbacks: PM Wong

By Tham Yuen-C, Senior Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 9 Aug 2024

Families will get more support, and help will be given to Singaporeans who have met with setbacks in employment, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Aug 8 as he set out how the Government intends to work with the people to build a better Singapore.

PM Wong said he will share plans to boost social safety nets at the National Day Rally, which will be held on Aug 18.

In his first National Day message, PM Wong outlined three strategies to take Singapore forward: Forging new opportunities for the people, redoubling efforts to keep the cost of living stable and strengthening the system of social support.

Addressing the nation in front of Sri Temasek within the Istana grounds, he said the two-storey bungalow – where his temporary office is while the main building is renovated – was where founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and his family spent the night of Aug 8, 1965.

Mr Lee had tossed and turned that night before Singapore’s formal separation from Malaysia and independence, consumed with worry over how to build a nation from scratch.

What keeps PM Wong awake at night are the challenges brought by developments such as the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, tensions between the United States and China, growing populism, economic nationalism and protectionism across the world, and politics turning vicious in many countries.

“These are powerful forces that shape our operating environment,” said Singapore’s fourth prime minister.

While Singapore has become a shining red dot on the global stage, the country cannot afford to cruise along and just rely on existing formulas, as the world has changed dramatically, he noted.

“We have to act with agility, foresight and gumption. We have to seek fresh solutions, and chart our own path to take Singapore forward.”

He devoted the rest of his message to the strategies to navigate this new world.

One of them is to strengthen social support, since there will be those who will find it hard to keep pace with the rapid changes, he said.

Singapore’s ageing population will require more help, and so will those who are “sandwiched”, having to look after children as well as elderly parents, he added.

This is why the Government is investing more in social infrastructure, including launching schemes to boost retirement adequacy and the pay of lower-wage workers, as well as initiatives like Healthier SG to take better care of seniors, he said.

“We intend to do more,” he added.