11 Oct 2017
Thank you, Mr Chairman.
1 Singapore aligns itself with the statements made by Ecuador on behalf of the Group of 77 and China; the Maldives on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS); and Cambodia on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his reports under this agenda item.
Mr Chairman,
2 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) commit us to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. The in-depth review of SDG 1 at the 2017 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) earlier this year was a sobering reminder of the monumental task that lies ahead if we are to meet this goal by 2030. As the Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty comes to an end this year, it is timely for us to consider how best to renew and sustain the momentum generated by the implementation of the Second Decade in our efforts to eradicate poverty.
Mr Chairman,
3 Singapore believes that establishing sustainable and effective nationally-appropriate social protection systems and measures, or what we in Singapore call the social safety net, are essential if we are to leave no one behind on the road to sustainable development. Allow me to share some lessons that have served Singapore well as we work to build a more inclusive and caring society.
Mr Chairman,
4 One, the social safety net must be guided by underlying values and principles. In Singapore, these underlying values and principles are threefold. First, the dignity and self-reliance of the individual. Every Singaporean must be able to stand on their own two feet and live a life of dignity. Enabling those who can work, to work, helps to maintain self-respect and empowers them to improve their circumstances. Second, family support. Families should be the first line of support and fostering strong families is a key imperative. Third, community support. The wider community, including voluntary welfare organisations, grassroots organisations, philanthropists and volunteers from all walks of life can and should come together to provide care and support in both big and small ways. This augments the support provided by the government. While these underlying values and principles do not change, we do need to redesign assistance to meet changing and diverse needs. For example, new economic realities such as evolving business models, disruptions and labour market uncertainties mean that it is likely that more people will require support, and probably for longer periods, during job transitions. We also need to put more emphasis on life-long learning and re-training to ensure that our citizens are equipped with the necessary skill sets for the rapidly changing demands of the workplace.
5 Two, the social safety net must recognise that poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon. This means that financial assistance is just one part of the solution. In Singapore, the social safety net encompasses healthcare, housing, education, a mandatory comprehensive social security savings plan and income supplements for low-wage workers. However, designing a holistic and integrated social safety net is a necessary but insufficient requirement. We must also ensure holistic and integrated delivery. In Singapore, our network Social Service Offices (SSOs) throughout the island are the cornerstone of our social assistance framework. Some of our SSOs are co-located with career centres, to allow clients to immediately follow up on employment assistance. Other SSOs have social assistance, family services and employment services offered by different officers under one roof. This year, in exploring better ways to be more client-centric, we are extending the pilot delivery of both social and employment assistance by the same SSO officer. For clients who are unemployed but able to work, this will provide easier and quicker access to employment assistance. They can also get more holistic help, with employment goals tied closely to social assistance.
6 Three, tailoring assistance to the needs of individuals and families is key to effective support. In Singapore, SSO officers are empowered to exercise flexibility when providing assistance under the ComCare scheme, which is a government scheme that provides social assistance to low-income individuals and families. Rather than following the rules rigidly, SSO officers can make discretionary calls to tailor assistance to the needs of each individual or family. For example, SSOs can calibrate both the amount and duration of short-to-medium-term assistance, according to different needs. For one-off and ad-hoc expenses, they also tap on community resources to assist. This is important because the circumstances of each individual or family are unique; and some may require more assistance or take longer than others to get back on their feet.
Mr Chairman,
7 Of course, social policies can never be perfect and trade-offs are always involved. We have to pay attention to sustainability, to ensure that resources are going to where they are most needed. Different countries will have to do what works best in their unique contexts and circumstances. However, to end poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030, we need to learn from each other’s successes and challenges, now more than ever.
8 I thank you.
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