Enabling Masterplan 2030 signals Party’s commitment to build fair & just society

18/08/2022

In what is considered a significant piece of work, the Enabling Masterplan 2030 sets out the vision to build a more inclusive society in Singapore by 2030.

Launched on Aug 17, the report is put together by a 27-member Steering Committee led by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Mr Eric Chua and Vice Chairperson of Singapore Business Federation Mr Gan Seow Kee, after consultations with persons with disabilities and their caregivers. 

It sets out 29 recommendations along three strategic themes, covering the life stages and needs of persons with disabilities and their caregivers. Recommendations include more employment opportunities, better accessibility and greater access to inclusive education.

Chief among which is the ambition of having 40 per cent of persons with disabilities who are able to work be employed by 2030, up from the current 30 per cent between 2020 and 2021. This means that another 10,000 people with disabilities would gain employment.

This is a major step as it allows people with disabilities the opportunity to live independently and with dignity in the community.

Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli said in a statement: “This is a
significant piece of work, which describes in tangible terms what an inclusive Singapore would
look like by 2030, and provides a framework for us to be able to track our progress along the
way as we work to make this a reality. I am pleased to accept the recommendations on behalf
of the Government, and have begun the process of turning this plan into action.”

The Enabling Masterplan 2030 is the latest benchmark that charts the progress the PAP Government has made over the last decade – ensuring persons with disabilities to lead dignified lives and empowering them to fulfil their potential across different life stages.

For instance, the creation of Early Intervention programmes and Special Education schools, supporting persons with disabilities through their formative years; the construction of inclusive playgrounds across the island so that children with special needs can play alongside their peers; and formation of SGEnable also increased the employment of persons with disabilities and created workplaces that are more inclusive.

The mission

Our Party’s mission reads:

“The mission of the PAP is to build a fair and just society where the benefits of progress are spread widely to all.”

This is a statement that every Party member holds dearly and remains close to the heart.

While having the ambition of a fair and just society is good, the follow through – or the action – is critical.

After all, we are the People’s Action Party – putting plans into action is synonymous with the Party and has served Singaporeans well.

And we are doing more to build that inclusive society that we have set out to achieve decades ago.

Much more to come

Budget 2022 also saw enhancements to the Workfare Income Supplement, allowing people with disabilities to qualify for the maximum annual payout of S$4,200, regardless of age.

Besides, uplifting people with disabilities, the Party is also concurrently working to help various segments of society.

Earlier this year, the White Paper on Women’s Development was endorsed in Parliament, which advances the work the Party started decades ago with the formation of the previous iteration of the Women’s Wing – the PAP Woman’s League.

As Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam described, the unique Singapore story is that of broad-based social upliftment: jobs for all, rising incomes for all, homes for all, quality schools and public healthcare for all, and neighbourhoods and parks shared by all.

While we celebrate the launch of Enabling Masterplan 2030, let us pause and remember that it’s not the end of our mission but the latest milestone in our journey to build a fair and just society where the benefits of progress are spread widely to all.

Because the best is yet to come.

Click here to find out more about the Masterplan and click here to contribute.