Singapore Perspectives 2023 "Work"

The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) will hold its annual flagship Singapore Perspectives (SP) conference on 5, 9 and 16 January 2023. 

The theme of this year’s conference is “Work”. The conference will examine how disruptions and trends in technology, socio-economic developments, and Singapore’s own demographics will shape the future of work here. The pace of technological change, such as in automation and augmentation, is expected to lead to the displacement of many jobs even as new ones are created. How can Singaporeans prepare for this labour landscape, in which no one can expect to stay in a single job or occupation throughout their working lives? How should the labour movement adapt to remain relevant to workers? What can the state do to revitalise our social compact and help ensure that Singaporeans will continue to have viable and decent work? How will these various forces transform the type of work we do, the way we work, the meaning of work, and the roles of various stakeholders? 

Singapore Perspectives 2023 will commence with a keynote speech by Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing. There will be a total of six online forums held on 5 and 9 January 2023, followed by an in-person conference on 16 January 2023. The closing dialogue will see Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong sharing his insights on work in the future economy.  

Other prominent speakers over the three days will include Mr Ng Chee Meng (Secretary-General, National Trades Union Congress), Dr Gog Soon Joo (Chief Skills Officer, SkillsFuture Singapore) and Professor Hoon Hian Teck (Dean, School of Economics, Singapore Management University).

Please click here to view the programme.

Click here to read the Future of Work survey.

Panel 1 — Keynote Speech: The Role of Education and Lifelong Learning in the Future Economy

• Report on Panel 1
• Speech by Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing at the IPS Singapore Perspectives Conference 2023


Panel 2 — Transiting to the Digital, Green and Care Economies: How to Succeed in the Jobs Ahead

• Report on Panel 2


Panel 3 — Identifying and Addressing Longer-Term Work Trends: Role of the State and Educational Institutions

• Report on Panel 3
• Presentation Slides of Dr Gog Soon Joo
• Presentation Slides of Ms Low Khak Gek
• Presentation Slides of Mr Indranil Roy


Panel 4 — Keynote Speech: Role of Unions in the New Social Compact

• Report on Panel 4


Panel 5 — The Changing Role of Unions

• Report on Panel 5
• Presentation Slides of Mr Desmond Choo
• Presentation Slides of Prof Irene Ng
• Presentation Slides of Mr Sim Gim Guan


Panel 6 — Addressing Job Vulnerabilities: Ensuring Viable and Decent Work for All

• Report on Panel 6
• Presentation Slides of Mr Patrick Tay
• Presentation Slides of Ms Ranganayaki Thangavelu


Opening Address by IPS Director Mr Janadas Devan

• Speech by IPS Director Mr Janadas Devan at the IPS Singapore Perspectives Conference 2023


Findings from the IPS Survey on Future of Work Singaporeans Want

• Presentation Slides on Findings from the IPS Survey on Future of Work Singaporeans Want


Panel 7 — Interpreting the Survey Findings: Addressing Different and Changing Aspirations

• Report on Panel 7
• Presentation Slides of Prof Hoon Hian Teck


Panel 8 — The Meaning and Value of Work: Taking a Cross-Generational Perspective

• Report on Panel 8
• Presentation Slides of Mr David Chua
• Presentation Slides of Prof Paulin Straughan


Panel 9 — The New Social Compact and Policy Implications for Work

• Report on Panel 9
• Presentation Slides of Mr Rajeev Peshawaria
• Presentation Slides of Ms Yeo Wan Ling


Dialogue with Minister Lawrence Wong

• Report on Closing Dialogue
• Speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong at the IPS Singapore Perspectives Conference 2023


Closing Address by Dr Chew Han Ei


Media Coverage
• 8World. 2023. 陈振声：我国将检讨资助和支持终身教育方式. 5 Jan.
• 8World. 2023. 职总探讨兼顾企业和员工职业发展 确保不会因企业转型被裁员. 9 Jan.
• 8World. 2023. 黄循财：续创良好就业前景 并助国人加强退休生活保障. 16 Jan.
• 8World. 2023. 政策研究所调查：PMET上班族更有可能体会到工作意义. 16 Jan.
• Berita Harian. 2023. DPM Wong garis 3 cabaran pekerjaan demi pelihara kompak sosial S'pura. 17 Jan.
• Berita Mediacorp. 2023. Pekerja muda kurang bersedia terima gaji lebih rendah; lebih utamakan kebajikan keluarga, kehidupan peribadi. 16 Jan.
• Berita Mediacorp. 2023. Pemerintah semak cara pastikan keperluan asas persaraan warga SG dipenuhi: Lawrence Wong. 16 Jan.
• Berita Mediacorp. 2023. PMET lebih berkemungkinan besar dapati kerjaya mereka bermakna berbanding pekerjaan lain: Tinjauan IPS. 16 Jan.
• Berita Mediacorp. 2023. Sebilangan besar penduduk SG mahu terus bekerja selagi mereka sihat: Lawrence Wong. 16 Jan.
• Channel NewsAsia. 2023. Most people in Singapore want to work longer, provided that they are healthy: Lawrence Wong. 16 Jan.
• Channel NewsAsia. 2023. PMETs more likely to find meaning and purpose in work compared to other workers IPS. 16 Jan.
• Channel NewsAsia. 2023. Singapore's workers should embrace broader definition of what counts as a good job Lawrence Wong. 16 Jan.
• Coconut Singapore. 2023. Want or need Deputy PM says most Singaporean seniors want to keep working, others have their doubts. 17 Jan.
• Human Resources Director. 2023. More than half of Singaporeans would take less pay to improve personal lives. 18 Jan.
• Lianhe Zaobao. 2023. 陈振声：我国将为学生提供大规模客制化教育. 5 Jan.
• Lianhe Zaobao. 2023. 陈振声：政府将检讨终身教育 助人们应对未来挑战与机遇. 5 Jan.
• Lianhe Zaobao. 2023. 陈振声：进入“教育4.0”时代后竞争更激烈 大规模定制教育等转变助国人成 功. 6 Jan.
• Lianhe Zaobao. 2023. 黄志明：绿色转型时 企业应让员工抓住机遇. 9 Jan.
• Lianhe Zaobao. 2023. 黄志明：是时候继续调高年长员工公积金缴交率. 9 Jan.
• Lianhe Zaobao. 2023. 调查：年长雇员较不愿接受工作改变. 16 Jan.
• Lianhe Zaobao. 2023. 黄循财：工教院和大学毕业生起薪差距太大 会对社会契约带来负面影响. 16 Jan.
• Lianhe Zaobao. 2023. 经济干扰与波动增添公积金储蓄难度 黄循财：政府将考虑如何加强退休保障. 16 Jan.
• Lianhe Zaobao. 2023. 调查：超过六成本地公众认为生活比过去好. 17 Jan.
• Lianhe Zaobao. 2023. 黄循财：探讨加强年长员工保障 确保公积金制度能满足基本退休需求. 17 Jan.
• Mothership. 2023. Changing definition of success in education system a way for S'pore to stay relevant: Chan Chun Sing. 5 Jan.
• Mothership. 2023. SDP's Paul Tambyah asks Chan Chun Sing if preschools should be nationalised. 5 Jan.
• Mothership. 2023. NTUC will champion workers' interests, foster a 'just transition' into a greener future economy: Ng Chee Meng. 9 Jan.
• Mothership. 2023. 54% of S'porean workers would accept slightly less pay for benefit of family or personal life: IPS Survey. 16 Jan.
• Mothership. 2023. Govt will find ways to take care of S'poreans who can't work & contribute to CPF: Lawrence Wong. 16 Jan.
• Mothership. 2023. Lawrence Wong: Mentors like PM Lee & ESM Goh have been helpful in preparing for next role". 16 Jan.
• Mothership. 2023. Lawrence Wong name-drops Charles & Keith saga as example of unhealthy comparisons on social status. 16 Jan.
• Mothership. 2023. Lawrence Wong tackles issues on older S'poreans working longer & anti-discrimination employment laws. 17 Jan.
• Mothership. 2023. We shouldn't pit 1 generation against the next, both have a place in future workplaces SMU don. 17 Jan.
• Must Share News. 2023. Lawrence Wong Cites Charles & Keith Saga In Speech, Says There’s No Need To Compare. 17 Jan.
• Must Share News. 2023. S’pore Workers Want To Work Longer, Health Will Deteriorate Otherwise: Lawrence Wong. 17 Jan.
• RICE Media. 2023. This is How Chan Chun Sing Plans to Prepare Singapore for an ‘Untidy World’ of Work. 11 Jan.
• Seithi. 2023. வாழ்நாள் கல்விக்கு நிதியாதரவு தரும் விதத்தை சிங்கப்பூர் மறுஆய்வு செய்யவிருக்கிறது. 5 Jan.
• Seithi. 2023. "நல்ல வேலை எது என்பதைப் பரந்த பார்வையில் தீர்மானிக்க வேண்டும்" - துணைப்பிரதமர் வோங். 16 Jan.
• The Independent Singapore. 2023. Lawrence Wong says S’poreans prefer to work than retire, but netizens say they’d retire tomorrow if they can afford it. 17 Jan.
• The Online Citizen. 2023. Lawrence Wong said majority of Singaporeans “want to work longer”, while netizens rebut him saying many of them can’t afford to retire. 18 Jan.
• The Straits Times. 2023. Call to ensure workers retain dignity and identity as jobs transform in changing world. 5 Jan.
• The Straits Times. 2023. Focus on 5 key areas to keep education system relevant in uncertain world: Chan Chun Sing. 5 Jan.
• The Straits Times. 2023. NTUC in talks for progressive wages for plumbers. 9 Jan.
• The Straits Times. 2023. NTUC lobbies for better rights for gig workers, older workers. 9 Jan.
• The Straits Times. 2023. Blue-collar workers may have internalised society’s lower valuation of their work: Expert. 16 Jan.
• The Straits Times. 2023. Do more to address starting salary gap between graduates of different institutions: DPM Wong. 16 Jan.
• The Straits Times. 2023. Govt working on ensuring basic retirement needs met, boosting skills: DPM Wong. 16 Jan.
• The Straits Times. 2023. Less-educated Singaporeans at risk of falling behind as jobs change: IPS study. 16 Jan.
• The Straits Times. 2023. More women should head S’pore universities, organisations: Ex-MP. 16 Jan.
• The Straits Times. 2023. Steps will be taken against workplace discrimination and to support seniors: DPM Wong. 16 Jan.
• TODAY. 2023. Mid-career workers to get better support as Govt reviews lifelong education, but bosses must also help Chan Chun Sing. 5 Jan.
• TODAY. 2023. Consumers must be willing to pay more in order to raise wages, but difficult issue to tackle amid rising living costs: DPM Wong. 16 Jan.
• TODAY. 2023. Singaporean youth less likely than older generations to have seen their social status rise: IPS study. 16 Jan.
• TODAY. 2023. Younger workers less willing to accept lower pay for benefit of family or personal life: IPS survey. 16 Jan.