As Singapore’s and the global economy attempts to recover in 2022, the focus will still be on jobs and skills. To save jobs, to redesign jobs as well as to upskill employees to keep jobs and to ensure companies digitalise to offer more relevant jobs.
During Budget 2022, Minister for Finance, Lawrence Wong, announced that the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) scheme will be extended to more companies – namely even small and micro companies – with the qualifying criteria lowered.
This scheme – meant for employers – runs in parallel to the SkillsFuture credits that the government provides to individuals.
Read Also: Singapore Budget 2022: 10 Things Business Owners Need To Know
What Is The SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC)?
While SkillsFuture credits go individuals, the government also provides SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) to businesses. This is meant to encourage employers to invest in the transformation of 1) the enterprise and 2) its workforce.
Eligible employers will receive a one-off $10,000 credit to cover up to 90% of out-of-pocket expenses on qualifying costs for supportable initiatives. This will be on top of the support levels of existing schemes, which can already be quite substantial.
How Employers Can Benefit From The SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit?
For example, an employer applies for the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) to automate certain business processes. The cost of the equipment adds up to $20,000.
Under the Productivity Solutions Grant from 1 April 2022, the employer can already receive up to 70% funding for eligible expenses. This means the employer will be able to claim up to $14,000 when they spend $20,000 on eligible expenses. This leaves $6,000 as out-of-pocket expenses.
This is where the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) comes into play, covering up to 90% of your out-of-pocket expenses. Which means employers will be able to claim $5,400 (90% of $6,000) – leaving a final out-of-pocket expense at $1,600.
| Example: Utilising The SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) | |
| Equipment Cost: | $20,000 |
| Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) Funding | -$14,000 (up to 70% of eligible expenses) |
| Out-Of-Pocket Cost | $6,000 |
| SkillSsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) Funding | -$5,400(up to 90% of eligible out-of-pocket expenses) |
| Final Out-Of-Pocket Cost | $1,600 |
Read Also: Guide To Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)
This SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) replaced the older Productivity Solutions Grant (SkillsFuture Training Subsidy) (PSG (SFTS)) scheme from 29 February 2020. You can use your SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit for two broad categories of expenses.
#1 Enterprise Transformation (up to $7,000)
Under the enterprise transformation component, companies will be able to use up to $7,000 of the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credits. What this means is that a minimum of $3,000 must be allocated to workforce transformation.
The list of supportable programmes for Enterprise Transformation can be found on the Business Grant Portal. They include:
| 1. Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) | Enterprise Singapore (ESG) |
| 2. Enterprise Leadership for Transformation Programme (ELT) | Enterprise Singapore (ESG) |
| 3. Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) | Enterprise Singapore (ESG) |
| 4. Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) | Enterprise Singapore (ESG), Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Building and Construction Authority (BCA), National Environment Agency (NEA), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) |
| 5. Business Improvement Fund (BIF) | Singapore Tourism Board (STB) |
| 6. Aviation Development Fund (ADF) | From Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) |
#2 Workforce Transformation
To encourage employers to train and upskill their employees, a minimum of $3,000 (and a maximum of $10,000) of the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credits must be utilised towards workforce transformation programmes.
The list of supportable programmes for Workforce Transformation include:
| 1. Skills Framework-aligned Courses (in support of the Industry Transformation Maps) | SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) |
| 2. Career Conversion Programme (CCP) (course fee expenses only) – this includes the Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) and Rank-and-File (RnF) Programmes | Workforce Singapore (WSG) |
| 3. Support for job Redesign consultancy under Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG-JR) | Workforce Singapore (WSG) |
| 4. Job Redesign initiative (e.g. i4.0 Human Capital Initiative for Manufacturing Sector, Service Industry Transformation Programme for the Services sector) | Workforce Singapore (WSG) |
| 5. Design Thinking Business Transformation Programme | Workforce Singapore (WSG) |
| 6. Employement Support for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) – Job Redesign Grant for Employers | Workforce Singapore (WSG) |
| 7. Career Conversion Programmes (course fee expenses only) | Employment and Employability Institute |
| 8. Training Industry Professionals in Tourism (TIP-iT) | Singapore Tourism Board (STB) |
Is Your Company Eligible For SkillsFuture Enterprise Credits (SFEC)?
There is no need to apply for the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credits (SFEC). Eligible employers that qualify notified by Enterprise Singapore (ESG) in writing.
To be eligible, employers need to meet the following conditions:
- Have contributed at least $750 in Skills Development Levy over the qualifying period. There are four qualifying periods (note that all four has passed):
- 1 April 2019 – 31 March 2020
- 1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020
- 1 October 2019 – 30 September 2020
- 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2020
- Have employed at least three Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents every month over the same period
- Have not been qualified at any of the earlier periods
During Budget 2022, the eligibility criteria for Skills Development Levy contributions was waived from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022. This enables smaller businesses to qualify for the SFEC.
Read Also: Skills Development Levy: What Is It And How Much Do Companies Need To Pay?
If you have qualified in one of the qualifying periods, there is no need to continue requiring to qualify. No further eligibility checks will be conducted.
Employers will be able to start applying for supported programmes from 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2023. Companies will receive reimbursement from 1 April 2021. Final claims need to be submitted by 30 June 2025.
This article was first published on 1 October 2020 and has been updated.
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