GSP CONFERENCE 2023
Strengthening Social Security:
Insights from Singapore and Beyond

The theme for this year is “Strengthening Social Security: Insights from Singapore and Beyond”. Social security protection is clearly defined in UN instruments and ILO conventions as a basic human right. It is broadly defined as a system of contribution-based health, pension, and unemployment protection, along with some welfare support and social assistance benefits. Social security systems provide individuals and households access to healthcare and to guarantee income security, particularly in cases of old age, unemployment, sickness, invalidity, work injury, maternity or loss of a breadwinner. How social security systems are designed, and how they will respond to political, economic and social change in the future, is a complex public policy issue.

Singapore’s social security system is illustrative of an East Asian development state approach. Starting from a system emphasising individual self-reliance, Singapore has in recent decades strengthened social security and support to help citizens cope with the rising cost of living amid a maturity economy, changing labour market demands and an ageing population. The social security system continues to evolve as public policy seeks to balance personal responsibility and collective support. Students will have the opportunity to better understand these policy considerations through visits to the Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB) and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS).

Download the GSP 2023 Booklet here.