Former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo has sparked discussion after recalling that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) recorded poor work-life balance during his time in government — yet also had what he described as the highest morale in the public service.
Yeo made the remarks on Sept. 22 during The Mishal Husain Show Live from Singapore, where he appeared alongside former United Nations Security Council president Kishore Mahbubani to discuss Singapore and the challenges of an increasingly multipolar world.
Responding to questions about Singapore’s wealth and happiness, Yeo recalled surveys conducted during his time in government. He said both MFA and MTI performed poorly when it came to work-life balance, but had high morale among staff.
“Sometimes unhappiness may be a precondition for achievement,” Yeo said during the discussion.
The exchange came after host Mishal Husain raised the issue of Singapore’s position in international happiness comparisons. Husain did not specify the ranking she was referring to, while the 2026 World Happiness Report placed Singapore 36th among 147 countries and territories and ranked it highest in Southeast Asia.
Yeo also recalled former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s warning against promising happiness, arguing that governments can provide economic development, infrastructure and education but cannot guarantee individual happiness.
The comments have generated differing reactions online. Some commenters criticised the remarks as reflecting an outdated attitude toward overwork, while others agreed with the broader argument that governments can create conditions for people to pursue happiness without being able to guarantee it.
The discussion also highlights the distinction between workplace morale, work-life balance and overall life satisfaction. Poor work-life balance does not necessarily mean employees have low morale, while high morale does not by itself establish that demanding working conditions are beneficial or sustainable.
Yeo’s recollection has therefore renewed a broader conversation about Singapore’s longstanding emphasis on achievement and economic performance — and where workplace well-being fits into that model.
