IPS Update Issue August 2019

IPS organised two events that brought together distinguished speakers from around the globe in conversation with local experts and leaders from the people, public and private sectors.

The IPS-MHA Forum on Religion, Extremism and Identity Politics discussed the dangers of mixing religion with politics, through an examination of the rise of identity politics globally and the destructive interplay of religion and politics in neighbouring countries. Remarks by Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, Ms Farah Pandith and Mr Bilahari Kausikan received much media and public attention.

Two days later, the IPS-IMDA Digital Inclusion Symposium highlighted challenges to the inclusion of groups of marginalised groups in the use of digital technology, with speakers such as Mr Lien Choong Luen and Ms Carrie Tan focusing on topics ranging from universal design and website governance to corporate strategies in the private sector.

Report — Launch of the IPS-APRU Project Report on “Transformation of Work in the Asia-Pacific in the 21st Century”
• 2-min read

This report addresses the uncertainty surrounding human capital development and employment in the age of the digital economy, in particular the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Asia Pacific workforce. It also offers policy recommendations to leaders of higher education, government, and industry.

Against the background of disruption through technological advances and continued evolution of the business landscape, IPS organised a workshop to discuss the implications of Industry 4.0 for workers, and the role of education and industry in preparing them for the new work environment in terms of skillsets and job design.

• 3-min read

Singapore, being an open and highly connected society, is by no means immune to foreign religious influences. IPS researchers Mathews Mathew and Melvin Tay give their views on why it is timely to update the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act.

IPS shared the findings of two case studies it had conducted on voluntary approaches to community development. Bringing together community workers, consultants and professionals engaged in community work, the discussion unearthed insights and tension points in the messy world of community building.

This paper provides an update of the state of racial and religious relations in Singapore, using a series of indicators created by IPS and OnePeople.sg. Racial and religious relations were largely positive, though Malays and Indians reported a marginal rise in perceived work-related discrimination.

Retirement and re-employment ages should be dynamically indexed to the average number of years a Singaporean might be expected to live in full health, write IPS researchers Christopher Gee and Damien Huang. Such a move would align the successful ageing objectives of older workers with productivity goals desired by employers.