Lawrence Wong
Singapore
“Sir, we will provide more information. I see the value of getting Ministries to put out more information, to share more about how their resources are being used and what outcomes they have achieved.”
“Sir, I agree fully with Mr Azhar that human capacity, human capital is critical. In fact, I would say the long-term potential of Singapore, how far we go really depends on us being able to maximise our human potential. That is key and that is why we have long invested in education. And it is not just about the investments.”
“Sir, we have been maintaining that commitment of 1% for some time now. I do not think it is about saying that we just have to do more and spend more. As many have highlighted, we want to ensure good outcomes from our R&D spending as well. So, we will continue if the outcomes are good.”
“This has never been the case. Temasek, when it started, was always very clear about its mandate from the very beginning – commercial, not doing national service, focused on commercial outcomes.”
“Sir, the MOF economists when they look at fiscal projections use Government's forecast of the economy, which is also published. We would typically use the mid-point of the range and then, of course, because these are in nominal terms, you have to factor for that. And the projections are done on those basis.”
“Sir, I was relieved that Mr Loh said he only has one question, but he asked the most difficult question. To answer the question, we will continue to monitor cost of living across all segments of society.”
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“This is what we have been doing continually since our Independence. Our economy today reflects this progress up the value chain. Take the example of a multinational enterprise (MNE) like Siemens. It has been in Singapore for more than a century, since 1908. Of course, Siemens today has changed many times over from when it started. It has significantly expanded and upgraded its business, from a small sales office to electronics assembly in the 1970s and now it provides technologies across a range of sectors, including transport systems, water treatment technologies and medical diagnostic equipment. Last year, it announced that it will establish a new high-tech factory in Singapore, which will employ significant levels of automation and digitalisation. Along the way, Siemens has spun off new sub-units, including the semiconductor company Infineon Technologies – which some of you may have heard of – and some of these sub-units have grown into industry leaders in their own right, with their key manufacturing and research and development (R&D) locations based here in Singapore. Sir, there are many other examples like this. MNEs have continued to grow and upgrade their presence here in Singapore because they value our skilled workforce, our infrastructure and our connectivity to help them better access key markets in the region and beyond. So, when you add it all up, it means that the value-added content of our manufacturing sector has increased. We are able to command better prices in world markets and this in turn benefits our workers, who are able to enjoy higher wages. This is how we are able to stay competitive, despite our higher costs. One way to see this is to look at Singapore's share of global exports.”
“For all eligible firms, including those that are not profitable, we are providing a cash grant. The support can be used to defray cost increases, in wages, rentals, utilities, or transport, depending on the circumstances of each business. I understand that some groups will feel that the help extended is still not enough. But I hope everyone can appreciate the bigger picture. We are going through a rough patch of high prices due to forces well beyond our control. We are not the only country facing these difficulties. The Government will do everything we can to help households and businesses to get through this rough patch. Already, the situation is improving, and it should get better this year. But ultimately, the best way to deal with inflation is for businesses and wages to grow in real terms. To achieve that, we need better economic growth. This leads me to the second issue – how can we sustain growth and help Singaporeans secure a better future? And here, many Members spoke up about this, including Ms Jessica Tan, Mr Saktiandi Supaat, Mr Shawn Huang, Mr Sharael Taha and Mr Vikram Nair, amongst others. Securing economic growth is more than just a statistic. It is about how we stay relevant, add value to the world and make a living for ourselves. The reality is that Singapore will always be a little red dot. We have no hinterland. We have no natural resources, unlike resource-rich countries like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). If we falter, no one will come to our rescue. Moreover, businesses have so many options when they wish to invest or site their global or regional headquarters and operations. We know that Singapore is not the cheapest location. So, we must work even harder to add value and justify the Singapore premium.”
“This year, while inflation is moderating, we recognise that prices are still relatively high and there will be continued pressures for families and individuals. That is why I had enhanced the Assurance Package in the Budget. We have designed and sized the support of the enhancement carefully. There is something for everyone, regardless of age, property type, or income. But we also do not want to inadvertently stimulate demand too much and push up prices – something which Ms Foo Mee Har cautioned against. So, the support is targeted and tilted towards those with less. What will we achieve through the enhancements to the Assurance Package in this Budget? For lower-income households, it will fully cover their increase in spending due to inflation this year. For middle-income households, it will substantially cover the increase in spending due to inflation this year. We are not only helping families. We are also helping businesses cope with higher costs, especially SMEs. One of the reasons for rising business costs is higher wages for Singaporeans. For example, we are raising the wages for lower-wage workers. I am sure everyone supports this. But it will mean higher costs initially for businesses, especially SMEs. That is why the Government is doing more in this budget to co-fund the increase. Similarly, as Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How highlighted, we are raising CPF contributions for older workers so that they have sufficient savings for retirement. Again, this will lead to higher costs for businesses. But the Government will offset half the increase in employer contributions for 2025. We are doing more to help businesses in this Budget through the Enterprise Support Package. This is the most generous Corporate Income Tax rebate we have extended to date.”
“That is why we have introduced the new Standard, Plus and Prime framework. Because with this framework, we can keep the BTO flats in these better locations affordable through more upfront subsidies. But it will be a fair system because the additional subsidies will be clawed back when the first owners sell the flats. Or take public transport, the Government is already providing generous subsidies to keep our public transport system going. Fares have increased, but household incomes have risen faster. And that is why the proportion of household income spent on public transport has fallen over the last 10 years. We also track real wages closely. As Members are aware, real wage growth was negative last year. But we know that employers, many of them, are complaining of shortage of workers and higher wage costs, especially in services. So, it is not negative across the board. Some workers were still getting real wage increases. And at the household level, there was real median income growth, on a per capita basis, per household member basis. Sir, I have provided some key data points, so that we can understand the facts around the inflation situation globally and in Singapore. In countries everywhere, including in Singapore, there tends to be a gap between economic data and perceptions. It is partly because it takes time for consumers to adjust to new economic realities. Perceptions and sentiments are clearly important, and we take the feedback from the ground seriously, but we also need to examine data closely so as to better shape policy responses. It is in this broader context that the Government had extended support packages over the last two years to cushion the impact of inflation, particularly for lower- and middle-income Singaporeans.”
“Many countries also saw a surge in demand for domestic services, and did not have sufficient workers to meet the demand. These are the key drivers of inflation everywhere and Singapore, like all other countries, felt the impact too. Even so, inflation in Singapore did not reach the peaks seen in several parts of the world. One reason was effective monetary policy. MAS tightened monetary policy five consecutive times starting in October 2021. This meant allowing the Singapore dollar to appreciate more quickly, which helped to shield us against the sharp spike in imported inflation. Had MAS not acted, core inflation for the whole of 2023 would have been 6.6%, instead of 4.2%. Other major central banks acted too. So, with this overall monetary tightening and the stabilisation of supply chains, significant headway has been made in bringing inflation down around the world. Our inflation too has started coming down, in line with the rest of the world. In Singapore, our headline inflation was already moderating since last year, and is expected to moderate further this year. We expect this trend to continue, similar to other advanced economies. Several Members, including Ms Ng Ling Ling, Mr Ong Hua Han and Mr Faisal Manap, also highlighted other specific cost items – namely housing and transport. So, let us drill deeper into this data. Take public housing. Over the last 10 years, the average price of a 4-room Build-To-Order (BTO) flat in non-mature estates has remained relatively stable, even as median household incomes increased. So, in real terms, the affordability of such BTO flats has, in fact, improved. The challenge we face was with the prices of BTO flats in choicer locations which are more expensive.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank all Members who have spoken and supported the Budget. Members have raised many suggestions during this debate. I will not be able to address all of them in my response. But I assure you that we have heard your feedback and we will study your suggestions carefully. For more detailed issues relating to specific schemes and programmes, these will be addressed later at the Committee of Supply (COS). The questions raised by Members in this debate largely revolve around three broad issues. Are we doing enough to help Singaporeans cope with higher prices? How will we achieve better growth and help Singaporeans secure a better future? Is our system of social support sufficient to support Singaporeans? So, let me address these three issues in turn. First, on helping Singaporeans cope with inflation and cost pressures. Several Members, including Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Mr Henry Kwek and, Ms Hazel Poa and many others, spoke about this. Let us start by looking at the reasons for high inflation over the last two years and these reasons are certainly not unique to Singapore. For more than a decade before COVID-19, global inflation was generally stable, hovering at around 4% per annum. Singapore enjoyed relatively stable inflation too, and in most years, it was lower than global inflation. But in 2021, prices in global food, goods, energy markets rose quickly, as strong demand came up against constrained supply due to pandemic-related restrictions. Then, the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in early 2022. The two countries are major suppliers of key commodities, like oil and gas, fertiliser, and wheat. This brought about a further surge in prices.”
“This question has been answered in my reply to the oral Parliamentary Question filed by Mr Leong Mun Wai for today's Sitting. [Please refer to "Higher Interest Rates for Government-issued Treasury Bills", Official Report, 27 February 2024, Vol 95, Issue 125, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“Based on published information from the major retail banks, depositors can earn interest of up to 3.0% and 3.5% on six-month and 12-month FDs. This compares with the 3.66% and 3.45% yield for the most recent auction of T-bills of similar tenors.”
“My response to Parliamentary Question No 11 filed by Mr Leong Mun Wai will also address his Written Parliamentary Question No 1 in today's Order Paper. [Please refer to "Treasury Bills Allotted to Retail Investors and Steps to Promote this Investment Instrument Among Them", Official Report, 27 February 2024, Vol 95, Issue 125, Written Answers to Questions section.] The yields on Treasury bills (T-bills) are determined via competitive auctions in a market that comprises individuals and institutions from Singapore and overseas. They therefore reflect the general level and direction of interest rates in global markets. Over the past two years, yields on T-bills have increased alongside comparable instruments, such as US Treasuries, as central banks globally raised interest rates to combat inflationary pressures. As T-bill yields increased, retail investor demand has also strengthened. Allotments to retail investors have grown from around 13% of each issuance in 2022 to around 46% of each issuance in 2024. Retail investors can subscribe to Singapore Government Securities (SGS), including T-bills through local banks' physical automated teller machines (ATMs) and online banking channels. In 2023, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board worked with agent banks to digitise the CPF Investment Scheme-Ordinary Account (CPFIS-OA) application process. This has made it significantly easier for retail investors to participate in T-bills auctions using their CPF-OA balances. Fixed Deposit (FD) interest rates are determined by the funding needs of banks, competition in the market and deposit growth relative to loan demand. Indeed, FD rates have increased over the past two years, alongside higher demand for T-bills.”
“As the issue did not arise from a lack of technology but from differences in the interpretation of law, we will simplify and clarify the rules and processes to provide greater clarity on regulatory fees where GST should not be charged. MOF will table a bill soon to amend the GST Act to clarify the GST treatment for such fees and to prescribe a list of regulatory fees where GST should not be charged. This will make clear which fees are regulatory in nature. This approach will also help to address any cases where GST should have been applied, but agencies failed to do so. Mr Leong suggested to exempt all Government fees and charges from GST. As mentioned earlier, there are fees that are charged for the provision of services, like public sports facilities. Some of these services could well have been outsourced to private sector providers or there may be businesses providing similar services. GST should therefore be applied consistently to such services, regardless of whether the entity providing the service is from the public or private sector, so that there is parity in tax treatment. Other countries with GST systems also adopt similar principles. The Government is committed to upholding high standards of governance and integrity. We will continually review and improve our processes and where feasible, we will incorporate the suggestions from Members.”
“The correct treatment should have been to not charge GST on both the application fee and licence fee. Businesses or individuals who wish to appeal against the GST treatment for any Government fee can lodge an objection with the Comptroller of GST or an appeal with the GST Board of Review. To date, there have been no cases relating to Government regulatory fees. We have put out the facts and the remedial actions that will be taken. As announced on 14 February, the agencies involved have ceased charging GST on the 18 fees and will refund all affected taxpayers with interest of 5.5% per annum. The refund will minimally cover transactions since 1 January 2019 as the agencies, as GST-registered entities, are required by law to keep records for 5 years. Where records and updated banking details are available, agencies will proactively and automatically credit the refunds to individuals and affected businesses. Otherwise, agencies will contact taxpayers to provide or update such information before refunds are effected. If affected taxpayers are not contacted by agencies by 30 June 2024, they can reach out to the agencies to seek a refund. In cases where the affected company has been dissolved or the individual is deceased, agencies will make refunds to the Official Receiver and the executor, administrator or Public Trustee respectively. The agencies should be able to refund the vast majority of the affected taxpayers. But if there are any unrefunded amounts, then they will be considered part of the Government's GST collections and broader tax revenue used for nation building purposes. Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr Huang and Mr Leong Mun Wai asked how the Government will guard against future recurrence, for example, by leveraging on technology.”
“My response will cover Oral Questions 2 and 3 and Written Questions 2 and 3 on today's Order Paper, as well as related questions by Mr Don Wee, Ms Joan Pereira and Mr Leong Mun Wai for subsequent Sittings. [Please refer to "Reasons for Wrong Charging of GST by Government Agencies and Review of Processes to Prevent Recurrence", Official Report, 26 February 2024, Vol 95, Issue 124, Oral Answers to Questions section.] Government fees may be regulatory or non-regulatory in nature. Fees imposed for purposes of control and regulation are regulatory in nature, and GST should not be charged, whereas fees for the provision of services, such as the use of public sports facilities or rental of hawker stalls and exhibition spaces, are non-regulatory in nature and GST applies in such cases. Each Government agency, like any GST-registered business, has to assess whether its fees should be GST-chargeable whenever a fee is introduced or revised. Agencies do so based on the law. MOF and IRAS also provide guidance to agencies on what constitutes regulatory fees. Members asked how the issue was identified. It was picked up by MOF and IRAS as part of our regular internal review of the GST regime. We discovered inconsistencies in the application of GST on certain Government fees in November 2023 and concluded the review in January 2024, with 18 regulatory fees identified to have charged GST wrongly and need to be refunded. As most of these 18 fees are for the processing of applications rather than licence fees, agencies had deemed them to be taxable provisions of services. For example, an agency had charged GST on the application fee for a licence but had not charged GST on the licence itself.”
“I believe that the Member’s questions pertain to data recently released by the Department of Statistics on Key Household Income Trends 2023. In 2023, the average real household income per member for the 2nd to 8th deciles of resident employed households was positive, whereas the 1st, 9th and 10th deciles saw negative real income growth. This pattern reflects the uneven effects of slower growth amidst higher prices last year. Notwithstanding this, the bottom 10% has experienced good real income growth over the last decade, with an annualised growth in real household income per member of 2.1% over the past five years and 3.2% over the past 10 years. We will continue to uplift our lower-wage workers through Progressive Wages and Workfare. As announced at Budget 2024, the Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) will be raised from $1,400 to $1,600 per month from July 2024 and Workfare will provide increased support from January 2025. The LQS change complements the expansion of the Progressive Wage Model to more sectors and the introduction of Occupational Progressive Wages for administrators and drivers over the past two years. We are also doing more to help lower-income households with a range of measures, including in areas like daily essentials, utilities and public transport, especially through the enhanced Assurance Package. Lower-income individuals and households will get more support from these measures.”
“We are able to do so because: (a) our fiscal position is healthy and sustainable; (b) our Government has the trust of Singaporeans; (c) our people are united, and (d) our social compact is strong. These are the critical ingredients behind the Singapore story. What we have today is rare, remarkable and unique. Let us cherish it, treasure it and harness these strengths to remain a shining red dot in a troubled world. During the dark days of COVID-19, which feels like a bad dream to all of us now, I visited Riverside Secondary School. The teacher had asked the students to imagine what they would be doing in 10 years’ time and to write a letter to their future selves. One student – Levin Ong – wrote, and I quote: “Dear future Levin, I hope you have been well in these past ten years. I am grateful for how Singapore is dealing with COVID-19… the challenges I face are small compared to others during this difficult time. I want the world to be a better place and contribute back to society to the best of my ability. I hope, by 2030, I have made a better world for everyone.” Hope for the future. Giving back to society. Each one of us doing our best to make this a better place for all. That is what this is about. Mr Speaker, let us draw inspiration from young Singaporeans like Levin, move forward with confidence and build our shared future together. Sir, I beg to move. [Applause.]”
“Great catastrophes often seem unthinkable until they happen. Things may well get worse before they get better. So, we must be mentally prepared and take steps now to adapt to this messy world. This is not the first time that we’ve found ourselves in such a situation. Since our Independence, we have had to adjust to all sorts of external disruptions and shocks. The British deciding to withdraw troops from Singapore in 1967; the global oil crises in 1973 and 1979; the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997; the dot-com bust in the early 2000s; 9/11; SARS; the Global Financial Crisis of 2008; and of course, more recently the COVID-19 pandemic. Each time, we were able to weather the storms and emerge stronger. I believe we can do so again in our road ahead – so long as we stay united, work together, and continue to keep faith in one another. Budget 2024 is about acting on this belief. We are helping Singaporeans with their cost-of-living concerns. We are taking major steps to advance our Forward Singapore agenda. We will grow the economy. We must. For growth is the pre-requisite to create better jobs and raise living standards for all. We will equip everyone to realise their potential and ensure that everyone benefits from our nation’s progress. We will strengthen our system of risk pooling and social support, so that Singaporeans can be better assured through every life stage, and better equipped to bounce back from every setback. We will fortify our resilience, solidarity and unity, so that we remain strong and effective against any challenges or threats. We are not the only country adapting to a different world. Countries everywhere are searching for solutions too. Many find it hard to implement bold and long-term plans. But we can make it happen in Singapore.”
“Because there are so many pressures for us to spend more, be it on healthcare, social needs, or the energy transition, and these are all big-ticket items. We will have to manage these expenditures carefully, or we will end up with a significant funding gap. We can already see this happening in many other advanced economies where public finances are on an unsustainable path, and the fiscal systems are at risk of breaking. We must never allow this to happen in Singapore. Instead, let us uphold the ethos of fiscal discipline and responsibility that has served us well, and ensure that our fiscal position always remains balanced, sound and sustainable. Sir, let me now summarise our fiscal position for both FY2023 and FY2024. For FY2023, our revenue collections were better than expected. This was mainly due to higher Corporate Income Tax collections. The additional revenue will allow us to pay for new spending, including the $7.5 billion injection to the Majulah Package Fund. Accounting for both our revenue upside and higher spending, we expect to end FY2023 with a deficit of $3.6 billion, or 0.5% of GDP. For FY2024, we are budgeting a small surplus of $0.8 billion, or 0.1% of GDP, which is essentially a balanced fiscal position. The overall stance is appropriate, as we are providing targeted support for households and businesses, even as the economy is projected to operate at around potential. [Please refer to Annex H-2.] Mr Speaker, let me conclude. We are living in a world which will become more violent, more fragmented, and more unpredictable in the years to come. We wish this were not so. We will try our best, working with others in the international community, to shape better global outcomes. But we also have to be realistic.”
“Overall, given the significant spending required to stay competitive, at this point, I do not expect the new moves to generate net revenue gains for Singapore on a sustained basis. I will also make some further tax adjustments, to ensure our tax system remains fair and competitive. Details of the tax changes are in the Annex to the Budget. [Please refer to Annex H-1.] Sir, last year, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) released a set of projections of our medium-term fiscal outlook. These showed that Government spending has been rising steadily over the years. Our spending in the late 2000s was around 15% of GDP. Over the span of ten years, it has grown by three percentage points of GDP, to around 18% of GDP. We expect spending to continue rising in this decade. Healthcare is one key driver for the increase. But there are additional spending needs, fuelling the increase. We will have to spend more for the major moves to decarbonise our economy, as I explained earlier. As part of Forward Singapore, we are making significant policy shifts to strengthen our social safety nets and provide more assurance to Singaporeans. I have just introduced some of these measures in this year’s Budget. We will spend around $5 billion on Forward Singapore policy moves in FY2024 and close to $40 billion in total by the end of this decade. In our projections, MOF had assessed that Government spending will increase to around 20% of GDP by 2030. For now, that remains our assessment. Assuming we stay within this range of spending increase, we should have sufficient revenues to maintain a balanced budget over the coming years. But the medium-term fiscal position is tight.”
“Therefore, it is in our interest to implement the DTT, so that we collect the tax, rather than have it go somewhere else. The IIR and the DTT will take effect for businesses’ financial years starting on or after 1 January 2025 and will apply to large MNE groups with global revenue of at least €750 million annually. There is another component of Pillar 2: the Undertaxed Profits Rule. This is effectively a backstop, as it will allow Singapore to collect a share of the top-up tax on any MNE with operations here, if any portion of its income overseas has not been subject to the minimum tax. We will consider this at a later stage. With the DTT and IIR, we are already making major changes to our corporate tax regime. We will focus on implementing these changes first, and ensure a smooth rollout for the affected companies. In the short term, the implementation of Pillar 2 will provide additional revenues. But it is uncertain how much this will be and how long it will last. We may even see a reduction in our tax base, should MNEs shift some of their activities to other jurisdictions in response to the new business environment. In any case, whatever additional revenues we obtain from Pillar 2 will need to be reinvested for Singapore to stay competitive in a post-BEPS world. MNEs are now re-evaluating their plans and strategies. Other governments are also enhancing and refreshing their investment promotion toolkits. That is why we are introducing the Refundable Investment Credit, which I mentioned earlier. We will also have to spend more to support new investments, research and innovation activities, and to sustain our economic competitiveness.”
“The details of this change will be released in a statement later today. Next, on Corporate Income Tax – I will make significant adjustments to our tax system to take into consideration the international Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) 2.0 initiative. To recap, BEPS comprises two pillars. Pillar 1 aims to reallocate taxing rights on profits to market jurisdictions. When implemented, it will result in revenue losses for Singapore. Pillar 1 has been delayed for now, and the implementation date remains unclear. Pillar 2 will introduce a global minimum effective tax rate of 15% for large MNE groups. Last Budget, I announced our intention to implement Pillar 2 from 2025 and that we would monitor and adjust the timeline if needed. Since then, several jurisdictions have moved. The European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan and Korea are implementing Pillar 2 rules from 2024. Others, like Hong Kong and Malaysia, have announced their plans to do so from 2025. We will therefore move ahead with two components of Pillar 2, as planned. The first is the Income Inclusion Rule (IIR). A jurisdiction that introduces this will subject the overseas profits of MNE groups parented in that jurisdiction to a minimum effective tax rate of 15%. We will implement the IIR. In other words, MNE groups that are parented in Singapore will have to pay a minimum effective tax rate of 15% on their groups’ overseas profits, regardless of where they operate. The second component is the Domestic Top-up Tax (DTT). This applies to the Singapore profits of MNE groups operating here. Without this tax, these MNE groups would have had to pay their parent jurisdictions the effective tax rate of 15% on their Singapore profits.”
“We will continue to closely monitor the property market and will provide another rebate in 2025 if needed. We recognise that there are retirees living in higher-end residential homes, who face cash flow issues when paying their Property Tax bills. To help them, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) will offer a 24-month instalment plan without any interest. They can apply for this via IRAS’ website or contact IRAS for more details. Next, I will adjust the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) for the purchase of residential properties. Today, married couples with an existing residential property can enjoy an ABSD refund on their replacement private property under the ABSD concession for Singaporean married couples. To better support seniors who wish to right-size, I will extend the concession to single Singapore Citizens aged 55 and above. In other words, these seniors will be able to claim a refund of ABSD paid on their replacement private property, if they sell their first property within six months after purchasing a lower-value replacement private property. This extension will take effect from today. I will also introduce some flexibility to the ABSD regime for housing developers. Housing developers are now granted an ABSD remission, provided they sell all the units in their development within a prescribed sale timeline. But despite their best efforts, the developers sometimes face difficulties in meeting this timeline requirement. They are then subject to a full clawback of the ABSD. I will lower the ABSD clawback rate, should developers sell at least 90% of each development within the prescribed sale timeline. This ensures that housing supply continues to be released promptly, while providing some flexibility to the developers.”
“We have received feedback from members of public, tax practitioners, as well as Labour Members of Parliament, to consider increasing the dependant income threshold in view of rising cost of living and wage levels. So, with effect from the Year of Assessment 2025, I will increase the annual income threshold for dependant-related reliefs from $4,000 to $8,000. In Budget 2022, I announced a two-step increase in Property Tax rates for residential properties. This was meant as a wealth tax, targeted at all investment properties, as well as the higher-end segment of owner-occupied properties. Prior to that Budget announcement, market rents had been relatively flat for the preceding five years. But from 2022 onwards, market rents increased significantly due to the combination of strong demand and COVID-related supply constraints. As a result, the Annual Values (AVs) also increased sharply. We had originally expected the Property Tax changes to impact mainly the top 7% of owner-occupied residential properties. The AV increases resulted in the proportion of affected owner-occupied properties nearly doubling to 13%. In light of these market trends, I will raise all the AV bands of the owner-occupier residential Property Tax rates with effect from 1 January 2025. Currently, Property Tax is charged on the bands of AV from $8,000 to over $100,000. I will raise the lower threshold from $8,000 to $12,000 and the highest band from over $100,000 to over $140,000, and corresponding adjustments will be made to the bands in between. This will still uphold the intent of the Property Tax changes and ensure that those residing in higher-value properties continue to pay their fair share of taxes. The Government had provided a rebate to cushion the impact of the Property Tax changes this year.”
“I will also include SportCares, which provides opportunities for vulnerable children and youth, persons with disabilities and seniors to participate in sporting programmes. The Minister for Culture, Community and Youth will share more about our arts and sports initiatives at the Committee of Supply. Sir, everywhere in the world, we see societies becoming increasingly divided and nations more and more fragile. Economic growth or social transfers alone cannot guarantee that we succeed. This Budget therefore invests in our national resilience – from ensuring the effectiveness of our military and domestic security, to safeguarding our energy security and building a stronger national identity. These will shield us from external threats and the forces that threaten to pull us apart. Only then can we be confident that Singapore will endure. Our ability to invest in our economy, our society and our resilience has to be anchored on a strong fiscal position. Fiscal responsibility has always been a key part of the Singapore DNA. We spend our resources wisely, and we take care to provide for our children and grandchildren. This is why I made major revenue moves in the last two Budgets. These moves have put us on a stronger fiscal footing for the next decade, while ensuring that our overall system of public finances remains fair and progressive. This year, in light of concerns over cost of living, I will provide a Personal Income Tax Rebate of 50% for the Year of Assessment 2024. This will be capped at $200 so that the benefits go mostly to our middle-income workers. The rebate will cost the Government $350 million. Currently, taxpayers may claim a range of dependant-related reliefs, if their dependants have an annual income of $4,000 or less.”
“The additional investments will also strengthen the foundation for a more vibrant arts industry. NAC will support arts groups to develop and showcase their diverse arts offerings as well as strengthen the talent pool. Self-employed artists will also benefit from more development opportunities to broaden and deepen their skills. Apart from the arts, there are few endeavours that can rally the country and ignite the Singapore spirit like sports. From the grassroots to the global stage, from community participation to high performance, sports bring Singaporeans from all walks of life together. At the grassroots level, we will enable more Singaporeans to participate in sports by continuing to support the Sports Facilities Master Plan. With this, Singaporeans can look forward to new and rejuvenated sports centres in Toa Payoh, Punggol and Clementi, as well as more sports and recreational facilities in our neighbourhoods. Many Singaporeans want to support our national athletes and we will provide them with more platforms for them to do so. We will anchor more major sports events in Singapore, so that our athletes can compete in top-tier competitions against the world’s best on home ground. This will allow more Singaporeans to cheer for Team Singapore. We also have the One Team Singapore Fund, which provides dollar-for-dollar matching for donations towards Team Singapore athletes. I will provide a $20 million top-up for the One Team Singapore Fund and extend it till end-FY2027. In addition, I will broaden the scope of donations eligible for matching to cover athletes in emerging sports, like pickleball, tchoukball and powerlifting.”
“I will do so by extending the Charities Capability Fund Collaboration Grant for three years till end-FY2026. This will support collaborative projects among charities to enhance their governance, efficiency and capabilities. Doing good also extends beyond our shores. Many Singaporeans readily step forward to support those affected by humanitarian crises overseas. We saw this in the relief efforts following the devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria last year; and also in the generous donations in response to the human tragedy arising from the Israel-Hamas conflict. To encourage Singaporeans to support those in need overseas, I will introduce an Overseas Humanitarian Assistance Tax Deduction Scheme. This will provide 100% tax deductions for cash donations made towards overseas emergency humanitarian assistance causes through designated charities. This will run for four years as a pilot scheme. [Please refer to Annex G-2.] A stronger culture of giving will bind us closer together and make us a more caring and gracious society. Another way to strengthen our solidarity is through the common experiences that we all partake in. The arts and sports provide us with the platforms to do so. Let me start with the arts. The arts help to express our unique Singaporean culture, strengthen our shared bonds and make Singapore a distinctive home. The National Arts Council (NAC) has refreshed Our SG Arts Plan to drive transformation efforts in the arts sector. We will support this plan by investing $100 million over the next four years. As part of this plan, we aim to make the arts more accessible to all Singaporeans. We will unlock more opportunities and touchpoints for our artists to infuse the arts everywhere in our city and our communities.”
“Or if we decide to scale up the use of hydrogen, we will need to put in place new infrastructure for generation, storage and delivery. All of these investments are costly. They cannot be done by the private sector alone and will likely need some catalytic funding from the Government. I will therefore set up a Future Energy Fund with an initial injection of $5 billion. This will give us the confidence to invest in good time, put us in a better position to move quickly on critical infrastructure, and enhance our security in clean energy. The resilience of our nation is not only measured by what we spend, or by our infrastructure and hardware. Rather, our true resilience lies within – in the strong bonds Singaporeans have forged among ourselves and in our collective willingness to take care of each other. Every Singaporean man, woman, and child knows he or she belongs to this island nation, everyone has a place in our society, and each has a role to play in our unfolding Singapore story. That is the essence of Total Defence, which we commemorated for the 40th time yesterday. We nurture these bonds between Singaporeans by strengthening our culture of giving. There are many who have done well in Singapore and want to give back, but may not know how or where to start. We will do more to help donors better appreciate the needs of our society and advise them on how to more effectively direct their resources – financial or non-financial – to support lower-income families. This effort will be led by the Community Foundation of Singapore, in partnership with the Ministry for Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Community Chest. In the same spirit, we want to encourage charities to work together to uplift each other and better meet the needs of beneficiaries.”
“So, we will need other options to decarbonise the rest of our energy supply. That is why we are actively exploring other options. Hydrogen has the potential as a clean fuel. For now, it is still technologically nascent, costly, and risky. Nevertheless, we have set out a National Hydrogen Strategy to take purposeful steps forward. We will start by testing and deploying ammonia, which is a hydrogen carrier, for power generation and bunkering on Jurong Island. We are also exploring other energy sources. We are actively studying the possibilities for geothermal power. After all, we do have a hot spring in Sembawang. But this will require deep drilling to assess the potential, and it really remains to be seen if this will be viable. Further out in the future, we do not rule out nuclear power. Nuclear technologies are advancing rapidly, with smaller, safer and more fuel-efficient designs. We will build up our capabilities, so that we can critically assess the evolving technologies in this space and decide on the feasibility of nuclear deployment one day in the future. There is considerable uncertainty as to how all these energy pathways will work out. What is clear, however, is that significant effort and costs will be needed to transit from a system powered almost entirely by natural gas today, to one powered largely by clean energy. We say this is an “energy transition”. “Transition” sounds like a rather innocuous word. But the scale of this so-called transition is massive, and we will need to get it done over the next two decades or so, which is not a lot of time, when you think about the enormity of the task. For example, to import low-carbon electricity, we will need to invest in submarine cables and upgrade our existing power grid.”
“Scams, ransomware, data breaches, denial of service and other cyber threats have become increasingly commonplace. The development and adoption of new technologies like AI and quantum computing will also change the threat landscape. Cyber attacks will increase in speed, scale and sophistication. We have taken steps to strengthen our cyber defence. We established the Digital and Intelligence Service in the SAF. We will establish a new National Cybersecurity Command Centre at the Punggol Digital District to better coordinate cyber defence operations, improve collaboration with industry and academia, and spur innovation in cybersecurity. This will improve our capabilities to monitor, detect, and coordinate our defences against cyber threats. Besides the conventional areas of security, we need to address an emerging security challenge – and that is energy, but more specifically, the transition to cleaner energy. In the near to medium term, natural gas, which currently generates almost all of our electricity, will remain critical. Our natural gas supplies come through pipelines from Indonesia and Malaysia, and in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a range of sources. We are now planning to build a second LNG terminal to meet our growing electricity needs. Natural gas is the cleanest of all fossil fuels. But we will not be able to achieve net zero emissions if we continue to rely solely on natural gas. Unfortunately, we do not have many options for clean energy – we have no tidal power, no wind power and not enough land for the mass deployment of solar. So, what do we do? One way is to import low-carbon electricity. We are making progress on this front. But there is a limit to importing electricity without compromising security.”
“] Alongside our investments to strengthen our economy and society, we will also make the investments needed to forge a stronger and more united nation. We will safeguard what makes Singapore special and resilient – our commitment to take care of and defend one another, sustain the trust we have in each other and our institutions and build our strong sense of national pride and identity. Since Independence, we have invested steadily to safeguard our peace and security. Over the last two decades, we have allocated around 3% to 4% of our GDP annually to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)’s budget. At the same time, over the past decade, our spending on domestic security has doubled to more than $8 billion, or about 1.3% of our GDP. We will continue to build and maintain a strong and effective Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Home Team. We will invest in them, and upgrade their capabilities year by year, to protect ourselves from potential aggressors and security threats. The backbone of our defence and security remains National Service (NS). We owe a huge debt to our NSmen, who have served faithfully and made immeasurable sacrifices for our peace and security. I will therefore provide $200 in the form of LifeSG credits to all past and present national servicemen, including those enlisting this year. [Please refer to Annex G-1.] It is a small gesture, but when you add it all up, it will cost us $240 million and benefit 1.2 million NSmen. I hope this will go some way in expressing our appreciation and gratitude to our national servicemen as well as their families for all that they have done and continue to do for our country. [Applause.] In today’s world, defence and security apply not just in the physical environment, but also in the digital domain.”
“] Preventive care is especially important for seniors. Loneliness can do great harm to a senior. They need to stay active and socially connected. This is why we have Age Well SG – it is a new national programme to support seniors to age actively, stay socially connected, and be cared for within their own communities. I will set aside $3.5 billion for Age Well SG initiatives over the next decade. This includes several components. First, an expanded network of Active Ageing Centres, so that all seniors can look forward to a wider range of programmes at these centres, from physical exercises to volunteering opportunities. Second, for seniors with care needs, we will develop more assisted living options, such as Community Care Apartments and better home care arrangements, to empower them to age confidently in their homes and community. Third, “silver upgrades” to our residential estates, to enable seniors to live more independently and safely in the community. This will cover amenities like therapeutic gardens and barrier-free ramps, and senior-friendly home fittings like wider toilet entrances and shower seats. Fourth, improvements to our commuter infrastructure for seniors’ mobility and safety. This means more sheltered linkways, bus stops with senior-friendly features, as well as safer and more pedestrian-friendly roads. Sir, when you combine all of these efforts, the suite of investments we are making – in education, housing, retirement and healthcare – they speak to our steadfast commitment to address the needs of our families and seniors, through every stage of life. Through these investments, we will provide more assurance to all Singaporeans – to set minds at ease, improve lives and well-being and ensure Singapore remains home truly for all of us. [Applause.”
“Heed your doctor’s advice, participate in programmes that help you stay healthy and even pass it on by contributing as a senior volunteer. Even with healthier lifestyles, all of us will still need some form of medical care as we get older and especially nearer to the end of life. We must expect healthcare costs, including medical insurance premiums, to rise, even after generous Government subsidies. We want to ensure that all Singaporeans, including the self-employed and those not working, are able to build up their medical savings in anticipation of these rising costs. I will therefore provide all adult Singaporeans aged 21 to 50 a one-time MediSave Bonus of up to $300. This will benefit about 1.4 million Singaporeans and help them to cover their smaller medical bills and insurance premiums. [Please refer to Annex F-3.] Coupled with the Majulah Package for older cohorts, we will collectively provide a MediSave Bonus for about three million Singaporeans this year. To provide more support for healthcare costs, I will also update the per capita household income thresholds for our healthcare and associated social support subsidy schemes. Such schemes include MediShield Life premium subsidies, Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) subsidies for primary care, and subsidies for outpatient and inpatient treatments at our public hospitals. The changes to the per capita household income thresholds will mean additional Government spending in healthcare and other related areas of around $300 million per year. More than one million Singaporeans can expect to benefit from higher subsidies. This will provide greater assurance for healthcare costs, which will also reduce the financial pressures on caregivers. [Please refer to Annex F-4.”
“Over the years, we have invested heavily to ensure healthcare remains affordable and accessible for all. The Ministry of Health (MOH)’s annual budget has tripled within a decade. We have put this spending to good use. We are devoting more resources to areas of growing importance, like preventive health, support for our seniors and mental health and well-being, as recently affirmed by this House. We also continue to enjoy improvements in health outcomes, with Singaporeans living longer and healthier lives. But with a rapidly ageing population, the fiscal pressures of healthcare will only grow. As a responsible Government, we have to plan ahead and set aside sufficient resources to keep healthcare affordable for all. The GST increase was meant for this purpose. Essentially, we are pre-funding the rising healthcare expenditure by increasing GST now, instead of waiting to do so in the future. Because if we wait, we will end up imposing a heavier burden on our future selves and our children. Of course, individuals also have a part to play. That is why we launched Healthier SG to empower all Singaporeans to take charge of our own health. While it is still early days, the momentum is encouraging. More than 700,000 Singapore residents have enrolled in Healthier SG. One of them is Mdm Rubiah, who turns 69 this year. She credits her Healthier SG consultation for timely advice on how best to manage her health. Today, she is monitoring her blood pressure daily, cutting down on ice cream and "keropok" in her diet, and staying active through exercise classes and nature walks. And she has also helped to spread the word, by volunteering at a Healthier SG roadshow. Sir, I urge all seniors to follow in the footsteps of Mdm Rubiah.”
“These changes to Silver Support and the MRSS will take effect from 2025. “Young Seniors” who currently in their 50s and early 60s will get an additional boost for their retirement through the Majulah Package. This was announced by Prime Minister Lee at last year’s National Day Rally. While the package is geared towards supporting Young Seniors, Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors will benefit too. In fact, all Singaporeans born in 1973 or earlier will receive at least one component of the Majulah Package. Let me explain. [Please refer to Annex F-2.] First, I will provide an Earn and Save Bonus, to help seniors earning up to $6,000 per month accumulate more retirement savings. They will receive a yearly bonus of up to $1,000 for as long as they work, with more going to those who earn lower incomes. Second, I will provide a one-time Retirement Savings Bonus of between $1,000 and $1,500 to seniors with retirement savings below the Basic Retirement Sum. Both bonuses will be for seniors who live in a property with Annual Value of $25,000 or less, and own no more than one property. Third, I will provide a one-time MediSave Bonus to all seniors born in 1973 or earlier. Young Seniors with less means will be given the higher tier of $1,500; and all other seniors will receive $750. The Minister for Manpower will share more details at the Committee of Supply. In all, the Majulah Package will benefit about 1.6 million Singaporeans, at a total lifetime cost of $8.2 billion. To honour this commitment without burdening future generations, I will set aside $7.5 billion in a new Fund – the Majulah Package Fund. This will be sufficient to cover the lifetime cost of the Package, after accounting for investment income of the Fund. Another significant undertaking is healthcare.”
“The SA savings will be transferred to the RA up to the Full Retirement Sum, where they will continue to earn the long-term interest rate. The remaining SA savings will be transferred to the Ordinary Account (OA). But members can voluntarily transfer their OA savings to the RA at any time, up to the ERS, to earn higher interest, and to receive higher retirement payouts. I will also enhance the retirement support schemes for seniors who need more help. The Silver Support Scheme provides quarterly payments to seniors who had low incomes during their working years and have less family support. I will raise the qualifying per capita household income threshold for Silver Support from $1,800 to $2,300, and increase the quarterly payments by 20%, to keep pace with inflation. The Matched Retirement Savings Scheme (MRSS) helps Singaporeans aged 55 to 75 with less CPF savings to save more, by providing dollar-for-dollar matching for cash top-ups to their CPF accounts. [Please refer to "Clarification by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance", Official Report, 16 February 2024, Vol 95, Issue 123, Correction By Written Statement section.] I will make several adjustments to the scheme. I will extend the MRSS to those above the age of 70. This will enable more Singaporeans to meet their retirement needs, with help from their families, employers and the community. I will increase the annual matching cap from $600 to $2,000, and set a lifetime matching cap of $20,000. Currently, we provide a tax relief to encourage Singaporeans to top up their CPF. But the matching grant is already a significant benefit extended by the Government. So, we will remove the tax relief for the cash top-ups that attract the matching grant.”
“For adults with disabilities, I will provide more support for their employment and integration into the community. I will expand spaces in Sheltered Workshops and Day Activity Centres where they can undergo skills training and launch more Enabling Services Hubs to provide community support to persons with disabilities and their caregivers. The respective Ministers will share more on each of these moves at the Committee of Supply. I will do more to support the retirement needs of our seniors. Let me start with some adjustments to the CPF system. [Please refer to Annex F-1.] First, in line with the recommendations of the Tripartite Workgroup on Older Workers, we will continue with the next step of planned CPF contribution rate increases for senior workers. I will increase the CPF contribution rates for those aged 55 to 65 by a further 1.5 percentage points in 2025. I will also provide the CPF Transition Offset to employers for another year, to cover half of the increase in employer contributions for 2025. This will help to cushion the impact on business costs. Second, I will raise the Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS) from 2025. The ERS is the maximum amount that members can put into their CPF Retirement Accounts to receive CPF payouts. I will increase the ERS from three times the Basic Retirement Sum, to four times from 2025. This means the ERS next year will be $426,000. This will allow more members aged 55 and above to fully commit their accumulated CPF savings to receive higher CPF payouts, should they wish to do so. Third, we will take steps to rationalise the CPF system. Today, members aged 55 and above have a Special Account (SA) and a Retirement Account (RA). From next year, we will close the SA for those aged 55 and above.”
“We are helping first-timer families by ramping up Build-To-Order (BTO) supply and giving these families greater priority. We are also making flats in choicer locations more affordable, in a way that is fair and inclusive, through the Prime, Plus and Standard framework. This will be implemented later this year for new BTO projects. Some couples have already booked their BTO flats, but they may like to have a place to stay temporarily, while they wait for the completion of their flats. This is especially the case for those with young children. Currently, HDB offers subsidised rental housing under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS). HDB receives many applications for the scheme, and it is ramping up supply to meet the demand. But in the interim, we want to do more to support such young families with urgent housing needs. I will therefore provide a PPHS (Open Market) Voucher for one year, to support eligible families who rent a HDB flat in the open market. In this Budget, I will do more for families of persons with special needs or disabilities. We know that families of children with special needs face greater cost pressures due to higher fees for education and care services. Each student at a Special Education (SPED) school already benefits from more subsidies than a primary school student in a mainstream school. But the fees at most SPED schools remain higher than those of mainstream schools due to the higher underlying costs. We are studying further moves to alleviate the cost pressures on these families. As a first step, I will reduce the maximum monthly fees at SPED schools to $90, down from $150 today. I will also lower the fee caps at all Special Student Care Centres to reduce families’ out-of-pocket expenses.”
“Let me start with support for our children, to give them a strong foundation in life. We will continue to take steps to improve preschool affordability. At Government-supported preschools, we extend generous subsidies, so that out-of-pocket expenses are kept affordable. We will lower the fees further so that full-day preschool expenses for dual-income families will be comparable to those of primary school and after-school student care. We will do so in two stages. I will reduce monthly childcare fee caps in Government-supported preschools in 2025, to $640 for Anchor Operators and $680 for Partner Operators. This is before the childcare subsidies which all families will benefit from. I will make another move to reduce fee caps in 2026. The details will be announced later. I will also enhance existing preschool subsidies for lower-income families. Currently, more subsidies are given to children with working mothers. I will extend these higher subsidies to all children from lower-income families, including those with non-working mothers. This will benefit up to 17,000 children. [Applause.] In schools, we will do more to help our children develop the competencies and values they need to thrive in a more unpredictable future. The Ministry of Education (MOE) is placing more emphasis on competencies like adaptive and inventive thinking, communication skills and civic literacy. We want to encourage and recognise students who demonstrate such competencies, including by enhancing the Edusave awards. I will therefore top up the Edusave Endowment Fund by $2 billion to support these and other education initiatives. For young couples who are getting ready to settle down and form their own families, timely access to affordable housing is critical.”
“The additional support will be rolled out in the form of ComLink+ Progress Packages. This is yet another major innovation in our social policy landscape. [Please refer to Annex E-2.] For example, adults in the family can each receive payouts of up to $600 every quarter, through a combination of cash and CPF, if they secure a job and stay employed. Those who make voluntary contributions to their CPF will receive matching grants from the Government to grow their savings faster. This, combined with existing schemes like the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, will help these families buy their own homes. We will also partner with corporates and community groups to implement the ComLink+ Progress Packages. The donors can provide additional financial support to these families, and contribute in other ways, like befriending and mentoring, to help them get back on their feet again. Sir, in this Budget, we are taking further steps to ensure that all Singaporeans have opportunities to take on work they find meaningful and fulfilling, build on their talents, give their best, and be rewarded fairly for it. This is how we keep the Singapore Dream alive and well for all our people. The Government will do our part. But I want to emphasise that this is not just about the Government doing more. We also need our employers, community groups, as well as families and individuals themselves, to step up. Together, we can and we will build – a fairer, a more equal, and a more inclusive Singapore. [Applause.] Next, let me touch on our plans to build a Singapore made for families – an endearing home for all of us to sink roots, grow up and grow old in. Families are the bedrock of our society, and we will support their needs at every stage of life.”
“I will therefore provide more support for ITE graduates aged 30 and below through a new ITE Progression Award. There are two parts to the Award. First, I will provide a $5,000 top-up to the Post-Secondary Education Accounts of ITE graduates when they enrol in a diploma programme. This will help to offset the costs of obtaining a diploma. Second, when these students attain their diplomas, I will provide a further $10,000 top-up to their Central Provident Fund (CPF) Ordinary Accounts. This will give them a head-start in purchasing a home or saving for retirement. Sir, this new Award is a significant investment in our ITE graduates. It represents our continuing commitment to uplift them, and to better equip them in their journey of lifelong learning. Besides tackling inequality, we must also uphold social mobility. Up to now, Singapore has fared better than other advanced economies. But we must continue to pay special attention to children from less well-off families, to ensure they have access to full and fair opportunities early in life. Many of these families are already taking steps to build better lives for themselves, but they may find it hard to sustain progress. We know that they often face complex challenges, including marital stress, existing debts, or even motivation and self-confidence issues. Under the enhanced ComLink (ComLink+), we are providing more customised support for these families. We are getting family coaches and volunteer befrienders to work directly with these families. They will jointly develop action plans to improve their life circumstances, and the coaches will provide additional support to the families, so as to encourage and motivate them towards these goals.”
“There will always be differences in wages in any society. But too large a gap creates unhealthy levels of anxiety and stress. Parents and children may get caught up in an education arms race, or may feel pressured to prioritise careers only in a few traditional fields, instead of focusing on their individual strengths and talents. In fact, the vast majority of Singaporeans in the Forward Singapore engagements welcome broader definitions of success. We want more diverse pathways so that every individual can strive to be the best possible version of themselves. This also means that we must accord greater value to those who are skilled in technical hands-on abilities, as well as those with the social and empathetic traits to excel in service jobs. In particular, the wages and career prospects of our ITE graduates should not be too far below their polytechnic- and university-going peers. I recently met some recent ITE graduates. I was inspired by their personal stories, and their enthusiasm to deepen the skills they have acquired at ITE. One of them, Matthew Francis Thanarajoo, graduated from ITE in 2021 with a Higher Nitec in Mechatronics. He is now pursuing a Diploma in Mechatronics at Temasek Polytechnic and honing his skills in automation and robotics. These experiences have equipped him with confidence to pursue his aspirations in engineering. He will be representing Singapore at the WorldSkills competition later this year in France and we wish him the very best. [Applause.] We want to encourage and support more young ITE graduates in their upskilling efforts, so they can excel in a profession they have trained in, and get themselves onto a better career and wage trajectory.”
“I will make several adjustments to ensure they continue to deliver results. [Please refer to Annex E-1.] First, I will enhance the Workfare Income Supplement scheme from next year. I will raise the qualifying income cap from $2,500 to $3,000. This ensures that we continue to cover lower-wage workers, even as their wages grow. I will also raise Workfare payouts. Lower-wage senior workers will qualify for a maximum annual payout of $4,900, up from $4,200 today. Second, I will raise the Local Qualifying Salary (LQS). All local employees at companies that hire foreign workers must be paid the LQS. [Please refer to "Clarification by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance", Official Report, 16 February 2024, Vol 95, Issue 123, Correction By Written Statement section.] The LQS for full-time workers will be raised from $1,400 to $1,600 from this year. The minimum hourly rate will be increased from $9 to $10.50 per hour. This increase ensures we keep pace with wage growth. Third, I will provide more support for employers who raise the wages of their lower-wage workers. In 2022, I introduced the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme (PWCS), where the Government co-funds the wage increases of lower-wage workers with employers. I know employers are concerned with rising business costs in today’s economy. So, the Government will do its part to help. I will raise the co-funding levels for this year, from a maximum of 30%, to a maximum of 50%. I will also raise the PWCS wage ceiling from $2,500 to $3,000 in 2025, in tandem with the increase in the qualifying income cap for Workfare. To provide for these enhancements, I will top up the PWCS Fund by $1 billion. Besides uplifting lower-wage workers, we also want to improve wages across different professions.”
“Ours must always be an economy that provides opportunities for all; an economy that benefits the many rather than the few. That is why we are making significant enhancements to SkillsFuture, and supporting jobseekers while they search for their next opportunity. We believe that every worker matters; that every citizen counts. We will equip every Singaporean to benefit from the fruits of our economic growth. [Applause.] In many developed countries, rising inequality and slowing social mobility have fractured social cohesion and deeply divided their peoples. These can create similar pressures here. Indeed, we embarked on the Forward Singapore exercise because we do not want to succumb to the kind of harsh inequality we see in so many parts of the world. By creating more paths towards equality and mobility, we also put ourselves in a better position for continued growth – in other words, a strong economy and a strong society reinforce each other. But tackling inequality is often easier said than done. Ideas on how to do so are frequently replete with unintended consequences. Simple handouts and blunt measures do not solve poverty. This is why Singapore has continually paved our own way since the beginning. We carefully study the experiences of others, taking note of where they have succeeded and failed. We introduce significant innovations that work for us, for our ethos, for our society. This is the Singapore way. Over the last decade, we have made progress in uplifting lower-wage workers, and reducing disparities in wages. Our income inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient, has declined to its lowest level over two decades. Workfare and Progressive Wages are our key strategies to uplift our lower-wage workers. These strategies are working.”
“This must be our shared commitment to one another – to help our fellow Singaporeans develop to their fullest potential and to have productive and meaningful careers. There is one other move we will make under SkillsFuture. We know that technological changes will bring about more churn in the economy. Even when the economy as a whole is doing well, some businesses or even some industries may be suffering. In fact, it is not possible to have an economy that is dynamic and growing without failures and losses. In some sectors, firms will have to let go of people, while in other sectors, new and better jobs will be created. We have to accept this reality. But it does not mean we should be indifferent to the suffering caused when firms lay off their workers. Losing a job is a major setback for workers and their families. Those who become involuntarily unemployed naturally feel the pressure to rush into the first available job they find. But the new job may not always be a good fit. Ideally, they should consider ways to upgrade their skills and to find a job that fits their aptitude and talent. But displaced workers may not have the time to train or search for new jobs, especially when they are already straining to make ends meet. Therefore, we will do more to support this group of workers. In particular, we will introduce a temporary financial support scheme for the involuntarily unemployed, while they undergo training or look for better-fitting jobs. We have to design this scheme carefully, including the quantum of support and the conditionalities that come with the support. This is to avoid the pitfalls other countries experienced when they introduced unemployment benefits. We are working out the parameters for the scheme, and will provide more details later this year.”
“Even after you have graduated from an Institute of Higher Learning as a younger person, you can come back again after you turn 40 to do a full-time diploma and it will be at subsidised rates. Third, I will provide a monthly training allowance to Singaporeans aged 40 and above who enrol in selected full-time courses. The training allowance will be equivalent to 50% of one’s average income over the latest available 12-month period and it will be capped at $3,000 per month. Every individual can receive up to 24 months of such a training allowance throughout their lifetime. This will support the full duration of a SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme and more than half the duration of most qualifications issued by our Institutes of Higher Learning. What do these changes mean for our workers? Take the example of Mr Calvin Li, 40 years old now. He graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with a Diploma in Electronic, Computer and Communication Engineering. He works today as a Project Director at Khoon Engineering, which is a mechanical and electrical service provider. With the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, Calvin will enjoy a $4,000 top-up in SkillsFuture Credit. He can use the Credit to pursue a second diploma. This diploma will be offered at subsidised fees and the Credit will cover more than half of the expense after subsidies. Should he intend to do this full-time, he can receive the monthly training allowance of up to 50% of his previous pay for two years. Sir, we are making a significant enhancement to our SkillsFuture ecosystem. But we will reap the full benefits only if all of us – Government, employers, workers, and unions – lean forward to truly deepen this culture of lifelong learning and skills mastery in Singapore.”
“But we know that taking time off from work to attend training courses over an extended period is not easy, especially for those in their 40s and 50s with financial and caregiving obligations. I will therefore introduce a new SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme to better support our mid-career workers. I will share the broad thrusts of this package or programme, and the Minister for Education will provide more details at the Committee of Supply. [Please refer to Annex D-1.] First, I will give all Singaporeans aged 40 and above a top-up in SkillsFuture Credit of $4,000. All Singaporeans aged 40 and above will get the top-up in May this year. For those who are younger, you do not have to worry. Your turn will come – you will get the top-up, when you turn 40. We have deliberately allowed the existing basic tier of $500 in SkillsFuture Credit to be used for a wide range of courses, and this was to instil a habit of lifelong learning. The new $4,000 credit will be more targeted in scope – we will confine its usage to selected training programmes with better employability outcomes. This includes part-time and full-time diploma, post-diploma, and undergraduate programmes, as well as courses for the Progressive Wage Model sectors. We want participants taking up these programmes to be assured of better employment outcomes after they have completed their training. Second, to provide more reskilling options, I will provide subsidies to all Singaporeans aged 40 and above to pursue another full-time diploma at our polytechnics, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and Arts Institutions from Academic Year 2025 onwards. In other words, we will give every Singaporean another bite of the education subsidy.”
“New jobs that did not exist decades ago, like data scientists and digital marketers are now in demand. Expertise keeps on changing. In other words, robots and machines will not completely replace humans at work. But they will change the way expertise is defined and how value is created. We therefore have to invest even more in our human capital, and help our workers refresh and update their skills, and learn how to harness new technologies more effectively. Indeed, this is something that the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Labour Movement have consistently championed, most recently in the Forward Singapore engagements. We started SkillsFuture nearly 10 years ago. Since then, Government spending on Continuing Education and Training has nearly doubled to $0.9 billion last year. Today, every Singaporean gets a $500 SkillsFuture Credit, and all employers can get support to train their workers. We have also built up a wide array of training options, which individuals enjoy generous subsidies for. We have made good progress over the past decade. But there is still much more to be done. Continuous skills upgrading throughout life is now more important than ever. So, we must firmly establish SkillsFuture as a key pillar of our social compact. Quality learning and skills training is not just about attending a one- or two-day course. Workers may need weeks or months of training to get a proper skills reboot, especially if they are looking to move to a different area of work. Even if they stay in the same industry, they will need a substantial injection of skills from time to time to stay relevant.”
“I will therefore extend the enhanced support for green loans under the Enterprise Financing Scheme, and expand its scope to help more of our SMEs adopt green solutions. I will also enhance the Energy Efficiency Grant. This was introduced in 2022 for companies in the Food Services, Food Manufacturing and Retail sectors. I will extend the grant to more sectors including Manufacturing, Construction, Maritime and Data Centres and their users. Beyond pre-approved energy-efficient solutions supported under the Grant, we will provide additional support for companies with more ambitious plans to reduce their emissions. [Please refer to Annex C-2.] The Minister for Trade and Industry will elaborate on this and other sustainability-related measures at the Committee of Supply. We are taking concrete steps to keep our economy competitive and vibrant, and to help our enterprises seize new opportunities. We will do whatever it takes to secure our place as one of the leading economic hubs in the world, known for our innovation, dynamism and deep capabilities, with good jobs and opportunities for our people. Sir, people and talent are critical to our economic dynamism. We are investing heavily in our human capital, including in preschool and education. But learning cannot stop when formal schooling ends. And that is why we launched SkillsFuture – to systematically support Singaporeans in reskilling and upskilling, and equip them throughout life. The Singapore workforce today ranks highly in terms of skills and technical proficiency. Our workers are able to command a premium in the global marketplace because of their expertise. But with rapid technological advances, expertise is in constant flux. Jobs like data entry clerks and door-to-door salesmen have dwindled in numbers.”
“Aerospace parts must meet stringent manufacturing and safety requirements. So, aerospace manufacturers like Rolls-Royce, are highly selective in who they choose as partners. Zincode, a local company was supported by the Smart Manufacturing Joint Lab – this is a collaboration between A*STAR, Rolls-Royce and Singapore Aero Engine Services Private Limited. The company was supported by this lab to improve its image processing capabilities. As a result, it qualified as one of the approved partners for inspection work at the Rolls-Royce manufacturing facility here in Singapore. Zincode has now successfully captured new opportunities from other companies in the aerospace sector and benefited from an increase in sales. We want to help more companies like Zincode raise their capabilities and win new opportunities. Today, we have the Partnerships for Capability Transformation (PACT) scheme. This supports collaborations between larger companies and SMEs, in the areas of supplier development and co-innovation. I will enhance PACT to support partnerships in more areas – including capability training, internationalisation and corporate venturing. With the enhanced PACT, we aim to help more of our firms plug into global supply chains, compete in markets abroad and grow to become industry leaders in their own right. For firms to be competitive, they also need to embrace sustainability. SMEs today sometimes still treat sustainability as an additional imposition and cost. But going green can be a competitive advantage. Because the MNEs are already looking to reduce their carbon footprint and they expect their suppliers to do the same. In other words, to play in the MNE value chain, our own companies must be “sustainability-ready”.”
“We will also work with leading companies in Singapore and around the world to set up their AI Centres of Excellence here. We want these Centres to spur industry collaboration and innovation, and drive greater value creation across the whole economy. In tandem, I will allocate additional resources to catalyse investments in upgrading our Nationwide Broadband Network. With the additional investments, we aim to enable mass market access to broadband speeds of up to 10 Gigabits per second in the second half of this decade. This is 10 times faster than the broadband speed in most homes today. This also ensures that our connectivity infrastructure will be able to support technologies like AI and immersive media, as they become more pervasive in the future. We will continue to do more to invest in and strengthen our local enterprises. We are helping smaller firms harness technology through pre-approved solutions, many tailored for the needs of specific industries. This enables the small and medium enterprise (SMEs) to “plug and play” and quickly achieve greater efficiency and productivity gains. As companies grow, their needs will become more complex, especially as they go overseas. We are providing more customised support to help these companies scale up, and we will continue with these efforts. One way for our companies to level up quickly is to partner with the multinational enterprises (MNEs) that are based here in Singapore. The MNEs set high requirements and standards for firms that wish to supply to them. We cannot force MNEs to choose only local suppliers. But we can and we will help Singapore enterprises to meet the high standards, and to form win-win partnerships with the MNEs. Let me share an example from the aerospace industry.”
“This will sustain our investments in research, innovation, and enterprise at about 1% of GDP. The additional resources will go towards research and related investments in national priorities such as advanced manufacturing, sustainability, the digital economy and healthcare. Our investments in R&D will take some time to translate into concrete economic outcomes. But this is precisely why we must take a long-term view. For these investments help to develop a critical mass of capabilities, ideas and talent. They enable us to sharpen our competitive edge globally, as a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy. Besides a steady commitment to R&D, we also need to harness the full power of technology across our key sectors. One critical emerging technology is artificial intelligence (AI). AI is not just about ChatGPT or Large Language Models. It is a general-purpose technology, like electricity, the internal combustion engine, the computer, or the internet. It has the potential to transform a wide range of industries, and to enhance productivity across many existing processes, from drug discovery, to organising warehouses, or driving vehicles. Singapore is already recognised as a serious player in AI development. We aim to go further – to build new peaks of excellence, and crowd in private sector resources along the way. We have set out the plans to do so in the National AI Strategy 2.0. To support this strategy and further catalyse AI activities, I will invest more than $1 billion over the next five years into AI compute, talent and industry development. Part of the investment will be used to ensure that Singapore can secure access to the advanced chips that are so crucial to AI development and deployment.”
“These are critical enablers of automation, 5G and electric vehicles, and they are in high demand. That is how our little red dot can be a key node in the semi-conductor supply chain – accounting for more than 10% of the global semi-conductor market and 20% of semi-conductor equipment in the world. Likewise in finance, we are a leading centre in Asia, supporting businesses from all over the world. And during this period of global uncertainty, we have been able to distinguish ourselves as a stable and trusted financial centre. The major financial institutions are keen to do more out of Singapore and we are seeing a continued inflow of investments, capital and talent. So, whether in advanced manufacturing or high-end services, the strengths we have today are not easily replicated by others. But the global competitive landscape is ever-changing and other countries, you can be sure, are seeking to overtake us. So, in this Budget, I will set aside resources to reinforce our competitive lead. I will top up the Financial Sector Development Fund by $2 billion. This will give the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) more resources to take full advantage of current opportunities, and extend our lead in the financial services sector – not just to do more in the core areas of banking, capital markets, asset management, and insurance, but also to build capabilities in new areas like fintech, as well as green and transition finance. I will set aside more funds for research and development (R&D), because this is how we push the frontiers of innovation across the entire economy. In 2020, we launched the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 (RIE2025) plan, with a commitment of $25 billion. I will invest a further $3 billion in RIE2025.”