$170 million to be spent to boost work-life harmony
Minister of State for Manpower Amy Khor in Parliament on Thursday unveiled an extensive “WorkPro” scheme aimed at promoting work-life harmony in Singapore.
Consisting of three programmes combined into one, it will involve some $170 million being spent on helping employees achieve better work-life harmony and also supporting employers to hire back-to-work and mature workers.
Small and Medium Enterprises are expected to make up 70 per cent of the companies which will benefit from WorkPro, with $100 million of the fund to be pumped into encouraging employers to implement flexible work arrangements, including a $40,000 grant given to employers who implement work-life strategies.
WorkPro also aims to encourage employers to hire and retain mature workers and locals who have been unemployed for long periods of time through a Hire Retention Scheme and a Job Redesign Grant.
Under the Hire Retention Scheme, employers will receive a retention incentive of up to $2,000 for each newly hired back-to-work employee or matured worker earning below $4,500. The Job Redesign Grant, in turn, awards up to $300,000 to companies to redesign jobs for this particular demographic of employees.
The support continues in the form of an on-the-job training allowance provided by WorkPro which provides employers up to $2,000 a month for each back-to-work local employee they hire and train.
Employees who stay with their companies for over a year will receive a retention bonus of up to $1,200, which may motivate them to stay in their jobs.
Related links:
Unwed parents to get childcare, infant leave benefits
"No changes" to COE market in near-term: Lui Tuck Yew
