WorkPro for flexi-work arrangements

In order to help Singaporeans re-join the workforce, Minister of State for Manpower Dr Amy Khor announced a new programme during her speech in the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Committee of Supply 2013.

WorkPro will give mature residents and back-to-work locals, comprehensive support to return to work. WorkPro will also encourage employers to cultivate progressive workplaces, through providing help and support when they employ mature workers and back-to-work locals, or place their employees on flexible work arrangements (FWAs).

Dr Khor said: “WorkPro will help employers to improve work-life harmony and better attract and retain locals. Secondly, it will help companies tap on back-to-work locals and older workers by supporting job-redesign, on-the-job training, recruitment, and retention efforts.”

WorkPro will provide funding support to help employers and workers through the following:

• Job Redesign Grant (Maximum $300,000 per company): Supports the costs of redesigning the workplace to assist employers to employ and retain mature workers, and back-to-work locals.
  
  
• Work-Life Grant (Maximum $160,000 per company): Consists of a Developmental Grant to defray costs of implementing work-life strategies, mainly FWAs; and a FWA incentive to motivate employers to sustain FWA utilisation.
  
  
• Age Management Grant (Maximum $20,000 per company): Helps employers to obtain the necessary skills and knowledge on age management practices.
  
  
• On-the-Job (OJT) Training Allowance (Maximum $50,000 per company): Encourages employers to train newly hired back-to-work locals.
  
  
• New Hire Retention Incentive (Maximum $50,000 per company): Provides employers with additional incentives to implement measures to retain newly-hired mature workers and back-to-work locals.
  
  
• Job Preparation Support: Back-to-work locals can attend a free job Preparation Workshop to prepare them with right skills and knowledge to return to the workforce.
  
  
• Retention Bonus (Maximum $1,200 per worker): To incentivise back-to-work locals who earn a gross monthly wage of up to $4,500 to stay on the job when they are hired by employers who are on board WorkPro.
  
  
• Transport Allowance (Maximum $200 per worker): Back-to-work locals and mature workers belonging to low-income households hired by employers on board WorkPro will receive a one-time transport allowance of $200.

The tripartite programme is jointly developed by the MOM, Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), Singapore National Employers’ Federation (SNEF) and National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). Dr Khor revealed that the WorkPro is a consolidation and enhancement of existing programmes, Work-Life Works! (WoW!) Fund, Flexi-Works! and Advantage!

A total of $170 million will be set aside over three years to support workers and employers. “We also expect Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to form 70 per cent of the companies that will benefit from WorkPro,” said Dr Khor.