Opening Remarks at MOM 70th Anniversary Dinner
Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower, Shangri-La Singapore
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Distinguished guests
Officers from MOM Family
Ladies and gentlemen
Good evening. Thank you for joining us this evening.
1. Tonight, we celebrate 70 years of the Ministry of Manpower’s impact on workers, businesses, and Singapore. This is an exciting milestone and a tribute to the people who have dedicated themselves to shaping our workforce as well as workplaces.
a. I am especially grateful that several of our former Ministers for Manpower, including our Guest of Honour, President Tharman, Minister Josephine Teo, Professor Jayakumar, Mr Lee Yock Suan, Dr Lee Boon Yang and Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, are all here with us tonight. Each of you has played a key role in steering MOM through different eras, making tough but necessary decisions that have strengthened our labour market and economy. Your leadership and dedication continue to inspire all of us here in MOM.
b. We also welcome many past and present tripartite partners, businesses, unions, and community leaders. MOM’s work is far-reaching, and it is only because of your support that we have managed to come this far.
2. But most importantly, MOM’s journey would not have been possible without the generations of dedicated officers who laid the foundation for industrial peace, enhanced protections for workers, and developed a skilled workforce that enabled businesses to thrive.
A Ministry Like No Other
3. MOM, then the Ministry of Labour and Welfare, was formed in the most turbulent of times.
a. Those of us who paid attention in Social Studies lessons will remember that 1955 was the year of the Hock Lee Bus riot which killed 4 and injured 31 people. In just that year alone, 275 industrial incidents were reported and over 940,000 man-days lost.
b. In those early years of nation-building, MOM led the formation of the tripartite relationship, quelling industrial unrest and laying an enduring foundation for a stable and harmonious industrial relations landscape.
c. This became the crucial springboard for Singapore’s rapid industrialisation and economic transformation, creating good jobs for Singaporeans.
4. MOM is a ministry like no other. As custodian of Singapore’s labour market, MOM at its core is both an economic Ministry and a social Ministry.
a. Especially in today’s global economy, where there is intense competition for talent, manpower must be an offensive strategy. Where talent goes, businesses follow. Where talent thrives, investments flow. And where there is growth, talent is sowed. MOM has heavily invested in building the employability and competitiveness of our local workforce. Key milestones include the launch of the Workforce Development Agency in 2003, which built up our continuing education and training capabilities. WDA, which has since been reconstituted into Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore, has championed the SkillsFuture movement to promote lifelong learning, skills mastery, and contemporaneously, the employability of Singaporeans. In order to attract complementary foreign talent, we also introduced the Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass, or ONE Pass; and made several enhancements to our work pass framework, including the introduction of the Complementarity Assessment Framework, or COMPASS, for Employment Pass applications. MOM is the enabler of this virtuous cycle that expands opportunities, fuels innovation, and ultimately grows the economic pie for Singapore and Singaporeans.
b. But, like I said, we also play a crucial social role. MOM must ensure that economic growth is not just robust but it has to be inclusive, by creating opportunities for all Singaporeans to participate meaningfully in the economy through good jobs. When Singaporeans can earn a competitive wage, support their families, and be proud of their work, they strengthen the very foundation of our social compact. We have also fostered harmonious and progressive workplaces through the Workplace Fairness Act, enabling Singaporeans and businesses to thrive. Good jobs are more than just livelihoods – they are the bedrock of a stronger, more united Singapore.
5. At our core, we are pro-worker, pro-business, and pro-Singapore. All at the same time!
a. This balancing act is not easy, but it is what makes MOM’s work so crucial, meaningful, and very, very fulfilling.
6. Later tonight, we will launch a commemorative book titled “Charting our Path”. The book is a peek behind the scenes of how MOM is constantly calibrating our efforts by keeping our finger on the pulse, and stepping up to play our role as the economy and circumstances evolved over the past 70 years. The book also captures the collective wisdom of past and current leaders of MOM and our tripartite partners, many of whom are here with us tonight. I would like to thank all of you for your contributions, and I trust that the book will continue to inspire and guide MOM officers in the future.
Tribute to MOMers
7. On this special occasion I would like to pay tribute to our MOMers, the MOM officers who have tackled each new challenge head-on over the last 70 years.
a. At MOM, we say “Once a MOMer, always a MOMer”! Because the commitment of our officers stands the test of time, and their contributions continue to shape Singapore every single day.
b. We can always do more, and we can always do better, but I believe that we can be proud of what we have achieved over the past seven decades through the hard work, through the grit of generations of MOMers.
c. Tonight, we have among us 150 officers who have each served more than 20 years in MOM. In fact, our longest serving officer, Ms Jessie Lim from the Manpower Research and Statistics Department (MRSD) has been with us since 1974! Just imagine – this was really in an era before laptops and emails. Everything lived in filing cabinets. And over the last 50 years, Jessie, who is now a Principal Statistical Executive and Team Lead has kept up with the times. She helped MRSD digitise its survey forms while maintaining a warm, personal touch at work. When some survey respondents shared personal struggles, Jessie connected them with the relevant agencies which could help them. Can we please give Jessie and all of our MOM officers, past and present, a big round of applause.
Personal Reflection
8. When I first joined MOM, we were in the thick of COVID-19. It was a humbling time—and a sharp reminder that MOM’s work goes right to the heart of people’s lives.
a. I remember asking myself at that point in time: How would I know if I’m able to significantly value-add and improve the livelihoods of our fellow Singaporeans as well as our businesses?
b. I then came to this stark realisation very quickly—very few of our decisions can please everyone. What reassures employers may unsettle workers, and on the other hand if we please too many workers, we end up putting our employers in significant unease. But through the many years of guidance form my colleagues, our PSes, our brothers and sisters from the labour movement, and from our tripartite partner SNEF, we have tried very hard to be an honest broker.
c. To bring people together, to focus on what we share in common, and to do what’s right for the long term, and sustain what we can do.
9. That’s why it means so much to me that even after we emerged from COVID-19, we continued working with NGOs, Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs), schools and community partners to care for our migrant workers.
a. The pandemic uncovered and triggered areas that needed improvements as well as mindset changes that were needed, and I felt strongly that MOM had to innovate, and lead by example. Our upcoming dormitory at Tukang Innovation Lane will reflect the higher standards we’re now working towards—better living conditions, healthcare, and spaces to rest and recharge.
10. Doing the right thing isn’t always the easiest —or popular.
a. The Platform Workers Bill was one such example. It took time and tough conversations, but we got there — CPF contributions, work injury compensation, and representation rights. A very significant, landmark, meaningful step forward.
11. At the same time, I am proud that we have introduced policies that reflect care and thoughtfulness.
a. The Majulah Package gives much-needed support to our “Young Seniors” in their 50s and 60s—many of whom are still juggling work and caregiving, and had shorter runways to build up their retirement savings.
12. I am inspired every single day by the people I work with—our MOM officers and our tripartite partners. I have seen them go the extra mile for workers, and stay up late to find solutions.
a. I want to thank all of my colleagues—many of whom patiently guided and put up with this first-time minister who was already past the CPF withdrawal age, and who perhaps brought a little too much of a maverick entrepreneur’s spirit in pushing everyone.
b. Your support, candour, and good humour have meant the world to me, so thank you very much.
Key Shifts for the Future
13. Together, we are not just solving today’s problems, we are preparing and gearing ourselves up for tomorrow’s challenges. Even as MOM turns 70 years young, we are constantly thinking ahead – because a decade from now, I truly believe the world of work will be very different. The rise of AI, rapid shifts in technology, and global uncertainty will reshape jobs, skills, and the way we operate. We have to start preparing today – to stay ahead, and to keep creating good opportunities for our fellow Singaporeans, and the future generations that will come after us. In this next chapter of MOM, we are making three key strategic shifts to better serve Singapore and Singaporeans in the years to come.
a. First, we will do more to empower all Singaporeans to access good job opportunities. We will continue to uplift lower-wage workers through Workfare, Progressive Wage Model and other forms of support. But our workforce profile has changed drastically over the years as education levels have continued rise. Today, 6 in 10 of our resident workers are PMETs, compared to 4 in 10 in 2000; and technological disruptions and global competition have now created new anxieties for us. We understand these apprehensions and anxieties, and we will take a pre-emptive and proactive approach to support and empower the broad base of our workers even before they run into employment difficulties. To help Singaporeans pivot to new careers, WSG offers Career Conversion Programmes to provide salary and training support to employers to reskill new hires and workers for new or redesigned jobs. We will also help Singaporeans gain global experience that strengthens career mobility through the Overseas Markets Immersion Programme (OMIP). And for those who have been thrown curveballs in their employment journey through no fault of their own, we introduced the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme to encourage and motivate them to find a well-fitting job. And as we speak preparations are underway, and we will roll it out by the middle of this month.
b. Second, we will build thriving and inclusive workplaces that reflect our changing demographics. Singapore is set to become a “super-aged” society. By 2030, around 1 in 4 citizens will be aged 65 and above. This has real implications on our workforce as more of them will have to take on caregiving responsibilities. That is why MOM has been working with employers to adopt Flexible Work Arrangements, or FWAs. We have also embarked on a long-term effort to extend the productivity longevity of our seniors. With the support of the tripartite partners, we are progressively raising our retirement and reemployment ages to 65 and 70, respectively, by 2030.
c. Last but not least, we will strengthen our engagement and trust with both workers and businesses so that we can seize opportunities together. Our model of tripartism is a unique competitive advantage for Singapore. The Government, unions, and employers have worked together through good times and bad, ensuring that our economy remains resilient and our workplaces fair. With growing global competition and economic uncertainty, we must work even harder to protect this collaborative approach. One concrete way we can do so is by getting employers and unions to work together to ensure that our workforce grows and stays competitive. We have enhanced NTUC’s Company Training Committee Grant, and recently announced the Enterprise Workforce Transformation Package, which will provide direct support to businesses in their transformation efforts. Co-creation with our tripartite partners has ensured that our policies are robust and support both workers and businesses. We have done so through platforms such as the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers and initiatives such as the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices. We will continue to work closely with our tripartite partners to build thriving workplaces and better lives for our workers.
Conclusion
14. Tonight, as we celebrate MOM’s 70th anniversary, we honour our past, celebrate our present, and look boldly and confidently to the future.
a. The world of work has changed dramatically since 1955, and it will continue to evolve. MOM will keep doing our level best to keep up.
b. We are refreshing our Mission and Vision, and will unveil a refreshed Ministry logo tonight. This represents our transformation as an organisation. To MOMers, I hope this gives you the spark to press forward with renewed energy. To our partners and Singaporeans, this is our renewed commitment to support your aspirations.
c. Times may have changed, but our commitment never will.
15. Our journey has never been easy, and it never will be. But with a strong sense of “M-O-M” - Motivation, Optimism and Mutualism, I know that MOM’s best years are still ahead of us.
a. M - We can thrive by empowering each Singaporean with the personal motivation to realise his or her potential.
b. O - We can thrive if we have the collective optimism in Singapore’s capacity to progress, even in the toughest of times.
c. M - And we can thrive if we believe there is mutual benefit in working together.
16. I call on all of us – MOMers, tripartite partners, and Singaporeans – to embrace this M-O-M spirit as we forge the path forward together.
We may be celebrating 70 years tonight, but in many ways, in the words of The Carpenters, “we’ve only just begun”. Thank you.