Between 2022 and 2023, Singapore ran a large public engagement effort to review and refresh its social compact, the broad understanding of what citizens, the community and the Government each contribute and can expect. Known as Forward Singapore, or Forward SG, it drew in many participants across sessions, surveys and conversations before publishing a report. This guide has the forward singapore exercise explained in plain terms: what it was, why it was held, how it was organised, what its report set out, and how to read the primary sources for yourself.
This is a neutral summary. The exercise touched on many policy areas, and reasonable people hold different views on them. The purpose here is to describe what Forward Singapore was and how it worked, not to argue for or against any conclusion it reached.
What Forward Singapore Was
Forward Singapore was a nationwide exercise to examine Singapore’s social compact and consider how it should evolve for the years ahead. It was launched in 2022 and led by the fourth-generation, or 4G, team of political leaders, with the stated aim of hearing a wide range of views on the kind of society Singaporeans want to build together and the trade-offs involved.
Rather than focusing on a single policy, the exercise took a broad view across many aspects of life, including work, education, family, health, ageing and the environment. It was framed around the idea that a social compact is not fixed and needs periodic renewal as circumstances change. The exercise ran through 2022 and 2023 and concluded with a published report.
Why It Was Held
The Government presented Forward Singapore as a response to a changing environment. The reasoning set out publicly was that shifts such as an ageing population, technological change, a more uncertain global economy and evolving aspirations meant it was timely to revisit the assumptions underpinning existing policies and to build a shared sense of direction.
The exercise was also framed as a way to strengthen the relationship between citizens and the state by involving people directly in thinking through difficult choices. Because many policy goals involve trade-offs, for example between individual and collective responsibility, or between benefits today and sustainability tomorrow, the exercise sought views on how Singaporeans would like to balance them. This engagement-led approach connects Forward Singapore to a wider tradition of national conversations in the country, which have been held at various points to take stock and set direction.
Framing the exercise around a social compact was itself deliberate. Rather than presenting a fixed set of proposals for comment, the organisers invited participants to help define priorities and to weigh competing goods, on the understanding that no society can maximise everything at once and that choices in one area have consequences in others.
How the Exercise Was Organised
Forward Singapore was structured around a set of themes, sometimes described as pillars, each led by political office holders and covering a broad domain of society. Participants could contribute in several ways, and the organisers emphasised reaching a wide cross section of the population.
Engagement took a number of forms, which typically included:
- Dialogue sessions and workshops bringing residents together to discuss specific themes.
- Focus group discussions on particular topics and communities.
- Surveys and online contributions for those who preferred to submit views remotely.
- Partnerships with community groups, unions, businesses and other organisations.
The organisers reported that the exercise reached a large number of participants across these formats. The precise figures, session details and the full list of partners are set out in the official materials, which are the authoritative record. After the engagement phase, the findings were drawn together into a report.
What the Report Set Out
The Forward Singapore report was published in 2023 and organised its findings and directions around several pillars, each addressing a broad area of society. The report described shifts in emphasis and directions of travel rather than a single list of measures, and it linked them to the overarching idea of refreshing the social compact.
The table below gives a simplified orientation to the kinds of areas the pillars covered. It is a general summary for readers who want a quick map, and the official report is the definitive source for the exact pillar names, wording and content.
| Broad area | The kind of question it looked at |
|---|---|
| Work and economy | How Singaporeans earn, train and adapt to a changing economy |
| Learning and education | How people learn across life, not only in youth |
| Care and health | How the society supports health, ageing and those who need help |
| Family and community | How families and communities are strengthened and included |
| Environment and future | How Singapore balances today’s needs with long-term sustainability |
Because policy is implemented over time, directions set out in a report like this are typically translated into specific measures gradually, through Budgets, schemes and legislation, each of which has its own details. For the actual content, wording and any commitments, the published Forward Singapore report is the source to read.
How to Read the Primary Sources
Forward Singapore generated a substantial body of official material, including the launch information, engagement updates and the final report. If you want to understand what the exercise concluded, going to these primary sources is far more reliable than relying on second-hand summaries, because the report sets out its own framing, priorities and language.
A few pointers for reading it neutrally:
- Distinguish between directions of travel and firm commitments. Reports often signal intent, while specific measures come later.
- Watch the dates. The exercise ran across 2022 and 2023, and any follow-up measures have their own timelines.
- Check figures against official releases. For participant numbers, scheme amounts or policy details, rely on the Government’s own published data rather than estimates.
Forward Singapore is best understood as a structured attempt to refresh a shared understanding of society through broad engagement, followed by a report that set out directions. Whether and how each direction is acted on unfolds over time through the normal processes of Budgets, agencies and Parliament.
Explore more
To understand the everyday channels through which people give views, read public consultation and REACH explained. To see the agencies that turn directions into delivered services, see our guide to statutory boards in Singapore explained.