Singapore

Ms Lim Soo Hoon, Permanent Secretary,

Ministry of Community Development and Sports

(Head of Delegation for Singapore)

Mr Chairman
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good morning

Introduction

1. Singapore is a city state with a total population of about 3.9 million people
in a land area of about 600 sq km. We have no natural resources except our
people. We import about 60% of our water needs and practically all of our
foodstuff. We live in a society that is multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-lingual and
multi-cultural.

Philosophy and Approach to Social Development

2. Given our circumstances, we believe that we must invest in our people
and provide them with the opportunities for development and growth. We work
very hard to remain cohesive as a people by carefully managing our diversity.
Every Singaporean is imbued with the sense that rewards can only be brought
about through hard work, based on the principles of meritocracy and self
reliance. We do not believe in social handouts. We believe the family is the basic
building block of our society. It should be the first line of support in our social
safety net if the individual needs help. Only if the family cannot help would we consider help from the community and the government.

3. These principles, in brief, undergird Singapore's approach to policies on
social development.

4. Our approach is in line with the commitments of the Copenhagen
Declaration. Singapore emphasises the development of our people and seeks to
maximise resources for social development by mobilising all sectors of society -
the government, the voluntary sector, the private sector, the community, the
family and the individuals.

Long Term Strategies: Family

5. As I have indicated earlier, we believe that strong and stable families are
the bedrocks of our society. Families impart positive values from generation to
generation, determining the moral fibre and tone of our society and the success
of our social development. The Government and the community can only help
provide the environment for the family to thrive in. At the end of the day, it is the
family itself which decides how it wants to grow.

6. A recent survey on the family in Singapore revealed that the family is
relatively well. Nevertheless, the family as an institution in Singapore will
increasingly come under strain due to globalisation. Working parents face the
struggle to balance work and family. Singaporeans, especially the educated and
career-minded, are postponing marriage and having fewer children or none at all.
Like many other countries, we are also experiencing a decline in our fertility
rates. Our total fertility rate is currently 1.49, way below the replacement rate of
2.1.

7. This has caused Singapore to have one of the fastest ageing populations
in the world. Although our population is relatively young today, it will change
rapidly over the next 20 to 30 years. In 1999, 7% of our population were elderly
persons. By 2030, 20% or one fifth of the population will be aged 65 years and
above. This will put a lot of stress on the working adult members of the family who
will have to look after both the old and the very young.

8. This is why we in Singapore are putting in a lot of effort to restore the
fertility rate and to prepare for an ageing population. Last year, the Inter-Ministry
Committee for the Ageing Population released a strategic blueprint to tackle the
challenges of an ageing population. This year we convened a Working
Committee on Marriage and Procreation to review measures to boost fertility
rates.

Economic Development

9. Economic development and social development go hand in hand. We
have to grow the economic pie if we want to feed or keep the stomachs satisfied.
Hence, the Singapore government's priority has always been on economic
development. Currently, Singapore enjoys full employment and all Singaporeans
have access to basic services, for example, housing, healthcare and education.

Maximise Manpower and Ensure Employability

10. For Singapore to compete effectively, it is necessary to upgrade the quality
of our work force through continuous training to meet the rapidly changing needs of
industries. The recent economic recession in Asia has reinforced the need for skills
upgrading and retraining to increase productivity and enhance the employability of
workers and tackle structural unemployment. The knowledge-based economy will
transform the workplace and workers have to be prepared to make the transition
into the new economy.

11. We have always viewed education as a strategic investment. Primary
education is free for all Singaporean children and there is equal access to
education for both males and females. Attendance in school is almost 100
percent. This reflects the importance our people place on education as a means to
having a better life.

12. This is supplemented by training. Workers are encouraged to upgrade
their skills to remain employable. This is crucial to minimise unemployment due
to economic restructuring.

Development of Social Services

Partnerships with Stakeholders

13. To maximise resources for social development, the Government
collaborates closely with groups such as Community Development Councils
(CDCs), grassroots organisations, NGOs or Voluntary Welfare Organisations
(VWOs), the unions and other community groups to provide a comprehensive
network of social services and programmes. We call this the Many Helping
Hands approach. Assistance at the grassroots level and with maximum
community participation is most effective. Each voluntary organisation reaches
out to the segment of the community they know best and are able to help most.
Examples of social services offered by such oranisations are counselling,
educational programmes and financial assistance.

14. The Singapore Government plans, regulates and facilitates the provision
of social services. It is a provider and catalyst for social services. It allocates
land or premises, resources and provides financial assistance. The state grants
up to 90% of the development costs and 50% of recurrent costs of services
developed and run by VWOs, and also provides advice on social services to the
voluntary sector, civic and community groups. This is turn acts as a catalyst to these groups to continue the provision of social services.

15. This approach also contributes towards building a cohesive and caring
community. The spirit of volunteerism is valued and promoted strongly as it
helps develop a sense of identity and belonging to the community, promotes a
deeper sense of ownership and galvanises resources for meeting social and
community needs. The more abled or talented are encouraged to help the less
fortunate.

Short term measures: Help for the Less Fortunate

16. As in every society, there will always be a small segment of the
population who will not be able to cope with their difficulties or have no family or
friends to turn to for help. The Government and the community will extend
assistance, but in a way that would not develop a mentality of dependence and
helplessness.

17. Those who require help are encouraged to increase their personal and
social responsibilities. The key thrust of Singapore's social policy is creating the
conditions such that every Singaporean has equal opportunities for education, a job
and a home. Opportunities and support to help the disadvantaged level up with
the rest of the population are available. This is done through education, training,
skills upgrading to remain employable and a network of social services (often
collaborations between the Government and voluntary sector).

18. In Singapore, on-going efforts are made to ensure that the disadvantaged are helped so that no one is marginalised. Basic factors - accessible housing, education and medical care - are regarded as part of the social safety net. It is not confined to social services in the community only. Attention is given to lower-
income families, the destitute elderly and the disabled. Welfare, social and community support programmes and services are provided by community, religious and grassroots organisations.

19. During the recent economic slow down, the Government and the community responded to the situation by providing those who have been retrenched with Interim Financial Assistance and help to transit into new jobs. The Government also had a host of measures which provided relief to business costs, enhanced economic infrastructure and capabilities and stabilised volatile sectors to improve employment conditions.

Conclusion

20. Economic development is undoubtedly necessary to ensure social
stability. The thrust of our social development policy is to deploy resources to
pre-empt social problems and actively shape the development of our society
instead of dealing with them downstream.

21. Our social policy seeks to help the disadvantaged be as independent as
possible through measures such as providing training and employment, and
helping disadvantaged families cope with everyday life.

22. The community, together with the Government, is responsible for the
development of social safety nets to help disadvantaged families and individuals
in Singapore. This approach also fosters a caring and compassionate society
where every individual is given a place to participate and contribute to society.