This is for Singaporeans and permanent residents released from jail in the past three years before being hired and are earning less than S$4,000 per month. It comes into effect on Apr 1. Employers who hire eligible ex-offenders directly can apply for the wage subsidies through the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.
Minister of State for Manpower Gan Siow Huang said challenges that ex-offenders sometimes face are more acute in the initial years after release, as they transit from prison to the work environment.
She cited stigmatisation, limited career opportunities, low educational qualifications and lack of recent work experience as potential difficulties faced by ex-offenders.
“A hiring incentive for ex-offenders will help encourage a wider range of employers to provide job opportunities to ex-offenders,” Ms Gan said.
Employers will receive the wage support for new ex-offenders hired between April 2023 and December 2025, before the scheme is reviewed.
Wage subsidies will also increase for people with disabilities who have not worked for the past six months before being hired.
From Apr 1, companies can get funding of up to 20 per cent of such employees’ monthly income, capped at S$400 each, for the first nine months of employment. This was previously up to 10 per cent and capped at S$200 for the first six months.
This is on top of the permanent wage support of up to 20 per cent, capped at S$400 per month per employee, for employers of people with disabilities earning below S$4,000 a month.
