![]() If we fail to do so, our society can easily fall apart in the face of disruptions like economic downturns, pandemics, or other crises. Now, as we enter a new era, we should look ahead and prepare for change. We managed to emerge stronger because of the collective efforts of everyone in society.īut we cannot just continue with the status quo. The pandemic was a baptism of fire for Singapore and the 4G leadership team. This helped us pull through the COVID-19 crisis. We have a high level of trust and a strong sense of social solidarity. We are fortunate to be dealing with these challenges from a position of strength. Everyone must be ready to adapt to the realities of global warming and prepare for threats such as extreme weather events, food shortages and rising sea levels. We have to make difficult trade-offs as we decarbonise our economy and society. Longer-term trends like climate change will pose additional challenges.Our rapidly ageing population will increase strain on our people, especially those who are sandwiched between caring for both their young children and elderly parents.Rising inequality and slowing social mobility have already fractured social cohesion in many developed countries and will create similar pressures in our society.Technological advancements will open up new opportunities, but they will also make existing job roles obsolete, and add to workplace anxieties.Geopolitical tensions are contributing to a less benign and less hospitable environment for small states like Singapore.We face new challenges and uncertainties but also new opportunities. Singapore is now in a prime moment for change. It must be refreshed to adapt to changing times. Everyone should recognise that we have a meaningful stake in society, and we are all invested in one another and in our shared future. It leads to a sense of assurance that someone’s got our interests in mind - that we have got each other’s backs.įor us to feel that way, our social compact should be collectively agreed upon. The Government using the taxes it collects to deliver high-quality public services, to invest in the well-being of all Singaporeans, and to build for the futureĪ functioning and robust social compact creates trust.Community organisations caring for those in need.Employers paying fair wages, looking after their employees and supporting their development.Individuals taking responsibility for themselves and their families, but also caring for others in society.In Singapore, this manifests through various examples: What is a social compact? It is the glue that holds society together, the shared understanding of our roles and responsibilities towards each other, and our shared values and aspirations as a people. We launched the Forward Singapore (Forward SG) exercise in June 2022, engaging Singaporeans from all walks of life on how we should refresh our social compact for the road ahead.
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