Budget 2025: Workfare Skills Support to be enhanced for lower-wage workers; IHLs to be developed
Mid-career Singaporeans who wish to pursue substantive training on a part-time basis will also receive a fixed monthly allowance of S$300
THE Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme for lower-wage workers will be enhanced to provide workers with longer-form courses that provide more substantive reskilling and upskilling, said Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on Tuesday (Feb 18).
The current WSS scheme has been designed primarily to support workers taking short courses that are completed over a few days, PM Wong noted in his Budget speech.
He said the enhancements will be modelled after the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, and will benefit lower-wage workers when they reach the age of 30.
Lower-wage workers taking selected part-time courses will receive a fixed monthly allowance of S$300, or up to 50 per cent of their average income over the latest available 12-month period if they are enrolled in selected full-time courses.
Those aged 30 to 39 will receive up to 24 months of monthly training allowance. Those aged 40 and above will also get up to 24 months of monthly training allowance, with a shared cap between the WSS and SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme.
The enhancements to the WSS will be available from early 2026, with the Ministry of Manpower providing more details, including course coverage, at its Committee of Supply debate.
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The SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme was introduced in Budget 2024 and grants all Singaporeans aged 40 and above S$4,000 in SkillsFuture Credit.
From March this year, individuals can apply for a training allowance of up to S$3,000 per month for selected full-time courses, for up to 24 months.
Mid-career Singaporeans who wish to pursue substantive training on a part-time basis will also receive a fixed monthly allowance of S$300 to help defray incidental training expenses. This will be implemented early next year.
The Ministry of Education will provide more details on this, including course coverage, at its Committee of Supply debate.
The government will also make moves to develop the nation’s Institutes of Higher Learning.
PM Wong said the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) will develop a new city campus.
“This will enable SUSS to champion lifelong learning and deliver programmes with a strong social emphasis, at an accessible location in the city for learners of all ages,” he said.
The Singapore Universities Trust will also be extended by 10 years to Mar 31, 2042, to support the fundraising efforts of newer autonomous universities, namely SUSS and the Singapore Institute of Technology.
For more Budget stories, visit businesstimes.com.sg/singapore-budget-2025
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