Amendments To Public Sector (Governance) Act To Better Serve Singaporeans Through Enhanced Use of Data

The Public Sector (Governance) Act (“PSGA”) (Amendment) Bill (the “Bill”) was passed in Parliament today. The Bill introduces amendments to the PSGA, to enable public sector agencies to use data more effectively to benefit Singaporeans. These amendments reflect a careful evolution of Singapore’s data sharing and governance framework.

Background

2. In 2018, Parliament passed the PSGA to establish a legal framework for public agencies to share data with one another for seven purposes supporting the public interest1. Since then, the PSGA has enabled public sector agencies to work together to better serve Singaporeans through data, resulting in more data-driven policies and schemes, faster implementation, and more citizen-centric support and services. For instance, backend data sharing has enabled automatic qualification and disbursement for various support schemes, such as the CDC Vouchers scheme and the Majulah Package.

Impetus for Amendments

3. The latest amendments extend this well-established legal framework to external partners (outside of the public sector) that public sector agencies work with. These partners help to deliver citizen-centric services, by leveraging their deeper relationships within the community, and specialised expertise that complements government capabilities. Such external partners may require data that government already possesses, in order to deliver services effectively on behalf of the government. With the amendments, public sector agencies can share data with trusted partners in fulfilling their public functions, for the same purposes under the existing PSGA.

Key Amendments to PSGA

4. The Bill will ensure that data shared with external partners is done with proper accountability, and in a protected and secure manner. Three safeguards must be met when data is shared with external partners under the PSGA:

   1. Data can only be shared when there is a legitimate purpose, i.e. falling under the seven purposes in the existing PSGA.

   2. A public sector agency must be authorised by the relevant Minister or his/her delegate to share data with trusted external partners, with proper documentation of the specific purpose, scope of data and external partners approved to receive data.

   3. External partners are held to Terms of Use comprising data protection and data security requirements that are contractually binding. These requirements must be minimally in line with what public sector agencies are subjected to when they share data within the public sector.

5. Individuals from external partners will also be liable for criminal offences, to deter misconduct with respect to the shared data. Individuals from external partners convicted of an offence will be subject to a fine of not more than $5,000 or jail term of not more than two years or both. This is aligned with data-related offences that apply to public officers under the PSGA.

6. Lastly, the Bill will provide legal clarity that public agencies may not only share, but also use, data they have for the public sector purposes specified in the PSGA. Public officers will continue to be held to data governance rules in the internal Instruction Manuals. This includes ensuring that data access is granted only to those who need the data for legitimate purposes, imposing more stringent protection for sensitive data, and imposing data security requirements such as password protection and encryption when sharing the data. Public officers are also subject to internal disciplinary action if they abuse or misuse data, e.g. if they use or disclose data or re-identify anonymised information for unauthorised purposes.

7. The PSGA does not override confidentiality obligations under other written laws, privilege, or contracts for data sharing within public sector and with external partners.

Public Consultation and Engagement Sessions on Amendments to PSGA

8. The Bill was developed in collaboration with relevant government agencies and in consultation with external partners, and further informed by closed-door engagement sessions with industry partners, academics, and other experts.

9. A public consultation on the proposed amendments was conducted from 12 August to 2 September 2025. The feedback gathered was helpful in finalising the Bill, and we thank everyone who contributed their views and suggestions.

Amended PSGA Aims for Government to Better Serve Singaporeans

10. The public sector remains committed to ensuring that data is used purposefully to benefit citizens, while preventing misconduct from external partners. The amended PSGA will benefit more segments of the public through a more integrated delivery of Government services.