Significant rise in employers using enhanced WorkPro scheme in Singapore

Singapore’s Minister for Manpower, Josephine Teo, has said that from 2013 to 2017, over 3,400 companies employing about 368,000 workers have benefitted from WorkPro grants.

That was in reply to MP Rahayu Mahzam on the increase in the number of applicants after the introduction of the enhanced scheme in 2016.

Under WorkPro, companies can receive funding support in three areas:

1. Implement age management practices through the Age Management Grant (AMG)
2. Redesign workplaces and processes to create easier, safer and smarter jobs for older workers through the Job Redesign Grant (JRG)
3. Introduce and sustain use of flexible work arrangements (FWAs) through the Work-Life Grant (WLG)

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Since its introduction in 2013, the WorkPro scheme has been continuously enhanced. For example, in 2016, the maximum grant for the JRG was raised from S$150,000 to S$300,000 per company to facilitate job redesign efforts. Further, the grant can be applied as a rider on top of other government grants.

“Since the enhancement, and with additional effort to promote the scheme, the number of companies that benefited from the JRG has increased from about 30 a year to about 440 a year,” Minister Teo confirmed.

She added: “WorkPro funding is only disbursed when we are satisfied that the company has achieved the corresponding grant deliverables and is able to demonstrate the impact to their employees.”

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