SINGAPORE – Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, and Education Jasmin Lau has been promoted to Acting Minister for Manpower.
Three other political office-holders will be appointed full ministers as part of the latest Cabinet reshuffle unveiled by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on July 22.
At a press conference, PM Wong spoke of continuing to build a strong pipeline of appointees.
“It’s not just the ministers – you need younger office-holders, you need good backbenchers, you need a good bench of leaders, and then you can start looking at assessing every individual, assessing their performance, and considering how well they do,” he said.
He noted that people develop at a different pace, some are ready for larger appointments earlier, while others will take a bit more time.
“Everyone will develop according to their own pace, and my job is to assess, to entrust them with responsibilities when they are ready, and ultimately to put people in positions where they can best contribute to Singapore.”
The appointments will take effect from July 27.
Jasmin Lau
The soon-to-be Acting Minister for Manpower, Lau, 43, told media that she hopes to take care of Singapore’s workers through the different stages of their careers, as technology changes the idea of work.
Lau outlined her ambitions for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), which include uplifting the most vulnerable workers, helping Singaporeans cope with more frequent career transitions, as well as ensuring that lifelong learning remains accessible and relevant.
She “will also keep a close eye on retirement adequacy, so that Singaporeans who have worked hard all their lives can look forward to their later years with confidence”.
The former civil servant was appointed as Minister of State for the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and the Ministry of Education after being elected into Parliament in GE2025.
The first-term MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC will also be promoted to Senior Minister of State at MDDI and relinquish her appointment at the Ministry of Education.
Lau said that she plans to draw on her experience at the Education Ministry for her work at MOM, with skills, training and jobs being part of the same story.
She added that her responsibility going forward will be to help workers and firms navigate the changes wrought by technology.
Lau co-chairs the Committee on Technology and Innovation – one of five committees that are part of the Economic Strategy Review. The review looks at how Singapore can continue to thrive amid geopolitical changes such as the US tariffs and technological disruptions.
Before entering politics, Lau served as deputy secretary (policy) at the Ministry of Health (MOH).
As deputy secretary, she was among the highest-ranked civil servants in her ministry. At the time, she oversaw manpower, financing and regulatory measures in the healthcare system.
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