Public service attractive, adapting to new challenges: Chan Chun Sing

SINGAPORE–The opportunity offered by the public service to shape Singapore’s future remains in demand, said Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing.

He added in a podcast interview with The Straits Times on June 28 that while technological changes may have upended jobs in the private sector, the Government is committed to retrain and redeploy its 152,000 officers to keep them relevant.

“I must say that I am more fortunate than many of my counterparts overseas, because today, the Singapore Public Service is still the pride of our nation and people want to join us,” Mr Chan said.

But, as the world gets increasingly shaped by contestations, and with more Singaporeans holding diverse views and aspirations, local public servants must hone new skills.

Expanding their horizons to geopolitical developments beyond the country, and being able to pull disparate parties together to benefit Singapore, are examples.

Mr Chan said: “How can we gather the coalition of the willing so that we can find like-minded partners to work together, to build up that network that allows Singapore to survive and thrive.”

These partners are not only individuals or countries, but also companies, he added.

While artificial intelligence is replacing workers worldwide, Mr Chan would not be drawn in to say if layoffs could occur in the Singapore public service.

Like many governments worldwide, public-sector jobs here are seen as guarantees of lifelong employment.

He said: “We will always ask ourselves, how can we upskill the officers to do the new jobs? And for those officers who cannot be upskilled to do that job, how can we try to reskill them in other jobs?”

There will not always be a perfect match, and some would choose to leave.

“And that’s perfectly fine,” he said. Some leave and return.

Mr Chan, who is also Minister for Education, urged a reframe of perspectives for scholarship holders who find themselves bonded but not liking jobs they cannot quit without making financial recourse.

“When I first took up the scholarship, I had absolutely no idea what I was going into,” he said. “It was a very practical consideration. I needed to complete my studies, and I was hoping for a job.

“But as I went into the public service, starting with the military service, I realised that it’s not just what the organisation gives me that matters. It is also what I put in.”

Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, at the recording of Work Talk with senior business correspondent Krist Boo. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

As with any organisation, work in the public sector has its ups and downs.

Mr Chan said: “We all have bosses that are nice, bosses that are not so nice. We all have work environments that are sometimes challenging, sometimes a joy.

“But through it all, when we are determined to contribute, to give and to improve, then I think we will make for a better world.

“If you join the Singapore Public Service, it’s not just about the top line or the bottom line.

“You are part of a team that will shape the future of our country to deliver a better quality of life for our people.”

Listen to the interview on Work Talk.