Low-Wage Workers and Employers to Benefit from Workfare Training Support (WTS) Scheme

1. Under the three-year Workfare Training Support (WTS) scheme which will start on 1 July 2010, low wage workers can enjoy higher course fee funding, cash awards and greater support when they upgrade their skills. WTS is estimated to cost the Government about $190 million over three years.

   Higher Funding Support for Training Courses

2. There are three components to the WTS. First, Singaporeans aged 35 years and above, who earn $1,700 a month and less, will receive higher course fee funding of up to 95 per cent when they sign up for Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) training courses at Continuing Education and Training (CET) Centres.
3. Employers play an important role in raising the skills of workers. They will also enjoy similar levels of course fee support when they send their low wage workers for training. Employers will also receive higher Absentee Payroll to offset the salaries of these workers when they are away at training.

   Training Commitment Award

4. Second, low wage workers eligible for Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) can receive a Training Commitment Award of $200 in cash for every two WSQ modular Statements of Attainment or a full WSQ qualification they attain within a year. The award will be paid automatically with the workers’ WIS payout. The first payout will be in September 2010. A low wage worker can receive up to a maximum of $400 each year for the Training Commitment Award.

   Workfare-Skill Up Programme

5. In addition, low wage workers who need to build a stronger foundation before they take on further vocational training can look forward to a new Workfare-Skill Up programme. Offered through the Workforce Development Agency’s (WDA) career centres located at the Community Development Councils and the National Trades Unions Congress’ Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), the programme comprises:
   
   a) Motivational workshops and support networks to raise workers’ confidence as well as to motivate them to initiate and persevere in their training;
   
   b) Literacy training programmes to provide them with basic literacy training in reading, listening and speaking in English, with milestone awards of $200 for every literacy gains that they make, as part of a structured training pathway;
   
   c) Training allowances to offset the costs associated with training; and
   
   d) Job placement services after training if required.
   The programme will have flexible class schedules and customised training pathways to cater to the different literacy levels and needs of the trainees.

   WTS an Integral Part of Workfare

6. The WTS forms an integral part of Singapore’s Workfare approach to encourage low wage Singaporeans to work and raise their skills. While the WIS encourages older low wage workers to work by supplementing their income and retirement savings, WTS encourages them to upgrade their skills through training, so that they can improve their employability and upgrade to better jobs.
7. Details on WTS and its various components are available in Annex A. WDA will be working with its partners to reach out through eligible workers through direct mailers, mass media and roadshows in the heartlands. It has also set up a dedicated toll-free number, 1800-5368 333, in all four languages. Workers who need more information can call the hotline or approach the career centres at the Community Development Councils, e2i and CET Centres.