Singapore must be prepared for more difficult times ahead.

It’s a stark message from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and one that’s raising bigger questions about what comes next for jobs, wages, and the economy.

At this year’s May Day Rally 2026, the Prime Minister didn’t just sound the alarm on global uncertainty and AI disruption, he also made a bold promise: that even if jobs are lost, workers will still be protected.

But in a world where change is accelerating, how realistic is that? And what will it actually take to deliver on that promise?

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speak to Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, Senior International Affairs Analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore and a concurrent Senior Lecturer at the National University of Singapore, to find out more.