Views sought: Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong encourages 350  workshop participants to express views on the draft strategic framework on social welfare.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong met with 350 representatives from the social welfare and business sectors, academia and district councils and encouraged them to express views on a draft strategic framework on social welfare.

Feedback and suggestions expressed at today's workshop will help refine the strategic framework's draft, which will become a discussion paper for release by year's end.

The draft framework highlights how the administration intends to address social problems at a more strategic level through social investment, tripartite partnerships, and social protection in the form of a safety net with a springboard effect for greater self-reliance and to help people rebound after experiencing adversity.

These strategic responses help the building of social capital - that is, social relationships that help people get along with each other and act more effectively than they could otherwise as isolated individuals.

Framework stresses capacity building

Speaking at the workshop, Dr Yeoh said the objective of the exercise is to help re-orientate social welfare by placing a greater emphasis on active capacity building of individuals, families and communities and tackling the underlying risk factors, which may manifest themselves as social problems. 

"The Government, the third sector and the business community will work together to take a collaborative approach in addressing the challenges and to foster mutual care and support in the community," he said.

"With these supports, individuals and families are expected to be actively involved in solving their problems and take greater responsibilities for themselves and seize opportunities to enhance their capacities and improve their situations," he added. 

Systems to be better placed to respond to challenges

This will help systems and services to be better placed to respond to the many challenges brought about by globalisation, structural changes to the economy and the society, and aspirations of the community.

The proposed strategic framework on social welfare has outlined a two-pronged approach in the future policy formulation of welfare policies and services.

* Social investment: The Government will continue to invest in strategies that focus on building the capacity of individuals, families and the communities to cope and to help each other, thus increasing access to shared resources, creating opportunities and building up pathways, such as towards increased participation in society and work.

* Tripartite partnership: The Government will continue to encourage various forms of partnerships with the third sector and the business community to share responsibilities for solutions that prevent or remedy many social problems.

The two-pronged approach will be underpinned by a safety net, which serves to protect the disadvantaged, Dr Yeoh said.

"Together, it means shared responsibility among individuals, families, the communities, the Government, the third sector and the private sector in achieving our shared vision for the community," he added.