Singapore's success will never be measured by economic growth alone: President

How it supports the vulnerable, enables everyone to live with dignity also matters

- Kok Yufeng

Singapore's success will never be measured by economic growth alone, but on how it supports the vulnerable and enables every citizen to contribute and to live with dignity, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Emphasising the need to keep social mobility alive with each generation, Mr Tharman said this has always been a national priority, and it remains a shared ambition for the future in this new term of Government.

In his address at the opening of Parliament on Sept 5, the President said income inequality has declined and wages have risen, but the work to ensure fairer outcomes is never done.

Every Singaporean must be given the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential, he said, adding that deep-seated assumptions about what constitutes valuable work must be challenged.

To this end, training and career pathways will be improved so that Singaporeans can excel across a wide range of skills and professions, Mr Tharman said, as he outlined the Government's priorities for the new term.

"Progress means recognising the value in every job - in the trades, crafts, and services, no less than in offices and boardrooms - and ensuring that everyone who contributes to society earns respect and can build a good life," he added.

In his speech, Mr Tharman warned that as societies mature, wealth can be entrenched and inequality can become self-perpetuating.