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Josephine Teo Michael Linhart Vienna September 2016. Photo by Mahmoud.

Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Josephine Teo

Since 2021, Josephine Teo has served as:

• Minister for Communications and Information,
• Minister-in-Charge of the cybersecurity agency and the Smart Nation Initiative
• Second Minister for Home Affairs since 2017.

She is a member of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng ward of Jalan Besar GRC since 2020.

Teo worked at the Economic Development Board (EDB), the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), and the National Trades Union Congress before entering politics (NTUC).

She first ran for office in the 2006 general election as part of a five-member PAP team in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. Teo was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Toa Payoh East ward after the PAP team won an uncontested walkover.

1. Josephine Teo studied at National University of Singapore

Teo attended Dunman High School and Raffles Junior College before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1990 and a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree with honors in 1991 from the National University of Singapore.

Several awards were bestowed upon her during her time at NUS, including the Rachel Meyer Book Prize, which is given to the best-performing female candidate in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences’ final-year examinations. She went on to earn a Master of Science degree in economics at the London School of Economics in 1992 as part of the Economic Development Board-Glaxo Scholarship Program.

2. She’s worked in a variety of Singaporean and Chinese economic and social sectors

Aerial photography of Singapore. Photo by Mike Enerio.

Teo worked for the Economic Development Board (EDB) between 1992 and 2002. She started her career in enterprise development before being assigned to Suzhou as part of the EDB team working on the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park. She was in charge of marketing resources. When she returned to Singapore, she was appointed as the EDB’s Head of Human Resources.

Teo served as the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research’s (A*STAR) Head of Human Resources from 2002 to 2006. Teo was also appointed Director of Human Resources at the National Trades Union Congress’ Administration and Research Unit in November 2005. (NTUC). She took on additional roles within the NTUC and the labor movement after being elected to Parliament in 2006.

Teo was the Singapore Industrial Services Employees’ Union’s Executive Secretary (2006–2011). She was the Alignment Director (Youth Development) and Alignment Director (Organization Development) at the Administration and Research Unit from 2007 to 2011, as well as the Centric Director (Staff) (2008–2011). From 2007 to 2011, she was also the NTUC’s Assistant Secretary-General.

Teo was also the Chief Executive Officer of Business China, an organization dedicated to strengthening cultural and economic ties between Singapore and China, from 2009 to 2011.

3. Josephine Teo joined People’s Action Party

The logo of the People’s Action Party of Singapore. Photo by Huaiwei. Wikimedia Commons

Teo made her political debut in the 2006 general election. She ran as part of a five-member People’s Action Party team in the Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency (GRC). Teo was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC’s Toa Payoh East ward by an uncontested walkover.

4. Teo made a contentious statement about HDB flats in Singapore

Residential buildings in Singapore. Photo by Entienou.

In a media interview, Teo responded to whether Singaporeans were getting their HDB flats early enough to start a family by saying that one “doesn’t need much space to have sex.” Teo went on to say “Man meets woman in France, the United Kingdom, and the Nordic countries, and they can already have a child. They adore one another.”

Teo’s comments drew criticism on social media, with netizens accusing her of lacking empathy for couples and being insensitive to practical considerations such as being able to secure a flat before starting a family, as well as promoting premarital sex in conservative Singapore.

5. In 2017, she was promoted to full minister in Singapore

Teo was promoted to full Minister on 1st May 2017. She was appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Manpower, and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs. She was also in charge of the Prime Minister’s Office’s National Population and Talent Division.

On September 11th, 2017, she resigned as Second Minister for Foreign Affairs to become Second Minister for Home Affairs. Teo succeeded Lim Swee Say as Minister for Manpower on 1st May 2018, becoming the second female Cabinet minister to lead a ministry after Grace Fu. She also retained her position as Second Minister for Home Affairs.

6. Josephine Teo made contentious remarks about milk powder and wages

Teo commented on the high cost of milk powder in Singapore on her Facebook page. She said that “milk is milk, however fancy the marketing.” She also stated that she would buy the cheapest brand of milk powder approved for sale by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority for her own children.

Teo was chastised for being unaware that even the cheapest milk powder in Singapore is still significantly more expensive than in other countries in the region.

7. S. Iswaran was succeeded as Minister of Communication and Information by Josephine Teo

S. Iswaran. Photo by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Following a cabinet reshuffle in May 2021, Teo took over as Minister of Communication and Information, while continuing to serve as Second Minister for Home Affairs. 

9. She attended the opening of China-Singapore Multi-Modal Distribution and Connectivity Center 

Mrs. Josephine Teo, took part in the virtual launch of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Multi-Modal Distribution and Connectivity (DC) Center. Chongqing Mayor Hu Henghua and Liangjiang New Area Party Secretary Zhang Hongxing attended the launch ceremony in Chongqing, People’s Republic of China.

10. Josephine Teo has an estimated net worth of $4 million

Rich emoji, dollar eyes emoticon. Photo by koya79.

Her primary source of income is her political career. Teo’s successful career has afforded her a luxurious lifestyle, as well as some expensive cars and trips. Her salary ranges from $162574 to $475483 in 2022.

This includes bonuses, benefits, and various other compensations. She is one of Singapore’s wealthiest and most powerful politicians.