Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong urged earlier technology input in policymaking as 36 Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) officers left in a restructuring, while he called for technical expertise to spread across government.
The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said in a Nov. 3 parliamentary reply that 93 officers were included in the first phase. Thirty-six left in August 2026; the other 57 continued work on their projects until their last day of service.
By Oct. 30, 11 of the departing officers had found jobs in the public or private sector, MDDI said. Fourteen were receiving partner help with career coaching, applications or interviews. MDDI said 11 officers had not used the partner support, citing personal plans, career breaks or exploration of other career options.
Wong spoke at GovTech's 10th anniversary dinner on Thursday. He said bringing technology teams into the process after policy decisions are made can leave them translating complex rules and exceptions into systems that are harder to build and maintain. “Technology cannot be an afterthought in policymaking,” he said.
He urged policymakers and technologists to work together earlier and said digital services should be improved over time. Wong also called for older government systems to be modernized and cybersecurity strengthened, linking the need for renewal to fast-moving technology, including artificial intelligence.
GovTech was established in 2016 to build technological capabilities within government. Wong said expertise should be embedded across the public service, with GovTech retaining a role in addressing complex technology challenges. He also pledged continued transition support for officers affected by the restructuring.
Channel NewsAsia reported that GovTech expects about 300 workers to leave over two years, a figure it put at 7% to 9% of the agency's workforce. MDDI's reply covered the first phase and did not confirm that broader estimate.
