SINGAPORE: It is a “balancing act” to respect the past but not allow it to constrain Singapore’s options for the future, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Friday ( Aug 23 ) – his 100th day in office.
In his first National Day Rally speech next week, Mr. Wong vowed that his team had respect and honor the past by upholding the principles that had been essential to Singapore. He added, however, that his team must also be adventurous, look for better answers, and decide what will best serve the nation.
Mr. Wong, who gave more details at a press event on Friday, stated that his team wants to preserve diversity, an attitude of self-reliance, and a focus on individuals.
” So if we understand what these are, then we do n’t discard and we retain them, even as we think about making bold changes,” he said.
A” clear picture” of this is how his team thought about employment rewards, he said.
” It’s something that the authorities, all this and, for some, many years, has had misgivings about. For good grounds, because we have seen how damaging effects unemployment insurance has had on other nations.
However, “it does n’t mean that we ca n’t do something different in Singapore that is appropriate for our circumstances and carefully crafted to minimize the negative effects we’ve seen elsewhere.” ”
Mr. Wong introduced a novel SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme during his National Day Rally statement. to provide temporary financial support to decrease- and middle-class workers if they lose their jobs. Job seekers will get up to S$ 6,000 ( US$ 4,600 ) over up to six months while they go for training, job matching and career coaching.
“( The scheme ) allows us to find that right balance, doing something different, something new. However, creating ideal conditions also requires individuals to work hard, receive career coaching, receive skills training, and manage their jobs. “
Mr. Wong responded to a reporter’s inquiry about how the funds would be adjusted to account for the extra costs by saying,” We may find the budget… a lot of the activities that we are undertaking under Forward Singapore, which I’ve announced, may require more resources. “
He added that the government had already begun considering increasing cultural investments and aging populations, and that it would need to implement taxes modifications and adjustments to ensure enough profit for the medium term.
” We will make sure that… All of these innovative social activities that require extra funds may be met with enough funds to support them financially. “