26 Facts About Josephine Teo

Josephine Teo Li Min is a Singaporean politician who has been serving as Minister for Digital Development and Information since 2024, and Second Minister for Home Affairs since 2017.

Josephine Teo is serving as Minister-in-charge of the Cyber Security Agency and Smart Nation Initiative since 2021.

In 2022, Josephine Teo succeeded Lawrence Wong and has been serving as Chair of the PAP Community Foundation.

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

Josephine Teo worked at the Economic Development Board from 1992 to 2002.

Josephine Teo began her career in enterprise development before she was posted to Suzhou as part of the EDB team working on the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park, where she was responsible for marketing resources.

From 2002 to 2006, Josephine Teo was the Head of Human Resources at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research.

In November 2005, Josephine Teo took on the role of Director of Human Resources at the Administration and Research Unit of the National Trades Union Congress.

Josephine Teo served as the Executive Secretary of the Singapore Industrial Services Employees' Union.

Josephine Teo served as the NTUC's Assistant Secretary-General from 2007 to 2011.

From 2009 to 2011, Josephine Teo served as the Chief Executive Officer of Business China, an organisation aimed at improving cultural and economic ties between Singapore and China.

On 18 May 2011, Josephine Teo was appointed Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transport.

Josephine Teo relinquished her position as Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance on 30 September 2015.

On 1 May 2017, Josephine Teo was promoted to full Minister and appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Manpower, and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Josephine Teo oversaw the National Population and Talent Division, a department in the Prime Minister's Office.

On 1 May 2018, Josephine Teo succeeded Lim Swee Say as Minister for Manpower and continued to hold the portfolio of Second Minister for Home Affairs.

Josephine Teo then became the Member of Parliament representing the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng ward of Jalan Besar GRC.

Josephine Teo was the PAP Community Foundation executive committee for 12 years as a member and the chairwoman from 2016 to 2020 and in October 2020 she was appointed as deputy chairwoman of the PCF management council.

In June 2022, Josephine Teo was announced the new PAP Community Foundation management council chairman, taking over from Lawrence Wong who is the Minister of Finance as he is being promoted to Deputy Prime Minister.

Josephine Teo will stand for election in the 2025 General Election.

In 2023, as Second Minister for Home Affairs, Josephine Teo introduced the Online Criminal Harms Act, which allowed authorities to take down websites, apps, and online accounts suspected of facilitating criminal behaviour, including scams.

In May 2017, Josephine Teo commented on her Facebook page about the high cost of milk powder in Singapore, saying that "milk is milk, however fancy the marketing".

Josephine Teo further claimed that she would buy whichever brand of milk powder approved for sale by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority that was cheapest for her own children.

On 26 October 2018, during a conference held by the Institute of Policy Studies, Josephine Teo commented that implementing a minimum wage in Singapore may instead lead to higher unemployment and that Singapore's income inequality gap is "a problem of success" that is "difficult to overcome".

Josephine Teo introduced the Elections Bill which was passed in Parliament on 15 October 2024.

Josephine Teo is married to Josephine Teo Eng Cheong, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City and Investment Development Co and former Chief Executive Officer of Surbana Jurong.