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Oral Answer by Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Manpower, to Parliamentary Question on WorkPro take-up rate

Notice Paper No. 54 Of 2015 For The Sitting On 12 Feb Question No. 495 For Oral Answer 

MP: Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song

To ask the Minister for Manpower since the launch of WorkPro (a) what is the total amount of funding support disbursed, with a breakdown by funding support type; (b) how many companies have applied for and received WorkPro funding support; (c) what is the average grant disbursed to each successful applicant; (d) what proportion of the amount budgeted for WorkPro in 2014 has been utilised; and (e) how does the Ministry increase awareness among companies, especially SMEs, of the funding available under WorkPro.

Answer

  1. The WorkPro programme was launched in April 2013. As of December 2014, over 1,500 companies have tapped on WorkPro. On average, each WorkPro company will receive around $29,000 to put in place progressive workplace practices. This will benefit a total of 58,000 workers. A total of $43.2 million or 27% of the overall budget, has been committed so far. As many companies are still in the midst of implementing their projects, the total sum disbursed is $7 million as of December 2014. Companies can continue to tap on the budget until March 2016.
  2. There are three main grant components under WorkPro. First, the Age Management Grant encourages employers to acquire knowledge and implement age management practices to better manage a multi-generational workforce. Its take-up has been encouraging - $28 million budget has been committed.
  3. Second, the Job Redesign Grant provides support to employers who wish to go further to implement job and process redesign specific to their employees’ and business needs. As of December 2014, about $2 million has been committed.
  4. Third, the Work-Life Grant encourages employers to implement flexible work arrangements (or FWAs) at the workplace. $13.2 million has been committed to date.
  5. Our tripartite partners, the National Trade Unions Congress (or NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (or SNEF), are actively reaching out to employers, including SMEs, to highlight the importance of preparing for an ageing workforce. Firstly, they do so through regular outreach and briefings to employers on WorkPro, which take place 3 to 4 times every month. Secondly, they also target suitable recruitment events and job fairs to promote WorkPro to employers and individuals. Thirdly, NTUC and SNEF, together with the Government, have also profiled success stories at platforms such as the Age Management Seminar and through mainstream media. This helps to raise the awareness of WorkPro and showcase employers who had gone the extra mile to put in place age management practices.
  6. To further increase awareness among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), WDA taps on its partnership with SPRING’s SME centres to promote enterprise-related schemes, including WorkPro. As a result of the concerted outreach efforts, the SME take-up of WorkPro amongst companies has been positive, with SMEs forming 88% of WorkPro employers.
  7. We will continue to work closely with our partners to raise the awareness and sustain interest in WorkPro amongst companies, including SMEs.