COVID-19 Job Search and Singapore Government Resources

June 23, 2020


I was just as lost as you.

There’s a ton of information out there on different government job support programmes, schemes you can sign up with, funds you can tap into…

And more new measures being announced so frequently!

Don’t get me wrong – it’s great to have this extra job support. It’s just a little confusing.

All I want to know are:

  • What am I eligible for?
  • What is this programme or fund?
  • And how exactly does it help me?

Which is how I ended up writing this article, after doing lots of my own research.

I hope you’ll find this guide useful 🙂

I am looking for:

Note: This article talks about official and affiliated Singapore government Job Support initiatives for Singaporeans’ job search and career advancement needs. If you were recently let go, learn more about these free retrenchment support resources. For job/career portals in Singapore, check out our complete list of job sites or these top job portals in Singapore.

Covid-19 Job Search Support

Check out:

SGUnited Jobs

What’s this initiative?

  • SGUnited Jobs aims to create 40,000 new jobs in 2020. There are both long- and short-term roles:
  • 25,000 private sector jobs
  • 15,000 public sector jobs
  • Short-term jobs are for COVID-19-related operations.
  • Longer term, there’ll be 2-year public sector positions that will train local jobseekers, and help them eventually transition to relevant private sector jobs.

You’re eligible for SGUnited Jobs if:

  • You’re a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident

How to apply?

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SGUnited Traineeships

What’s this initiative?

  • Total of 25,000 traineeships for fresh graduates and mid-career professionals to gain working experience amidst a slower labour market:
  • 21,000 traineeships for fresh graduates
  • 4,000 traineeships for mid-career professionals.
  • Training allowance will be provided for the duration of the internship

SGUnited Traineeships (Fresh Graduates)

You’re eligible for SGUnited Traineeships (Fresh Graduates) if:

  • You’re a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident
  • You graduated or are graduating in 2019 or 2020 from ITE, Polytechnics, Universities or other educational institutions
  • You’ve graduated from the above institutions, and completed National Service in 2019 or 2020

How do I apply?

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SGUnited Mid-Career Traineeships

What can you expect from a mid-career traineeship?

Here’s an example shared by TODAY:

  • Singapore firm PBA Group has taken on over 10 mid-career workers as trainees, as part of Workforce Singapore’s Attach-and-Train programme
  • PBA Group designs robots and automation solutions for SMEs. There are trainees in various roles, including business development and marketing for robotics applications
  • While trainees have no confirmation of a job offer, they could be hired if they prove themselves suitable to the role

You’re eligible for SGUnited Mid-Career Traineeships if:

  • You are a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident

How do I apply?

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Virtual Career Fair

What’s this initiative?

Virtual Career Fair lists job opportunities with immediate vacancies. It features:

  • Jobs mainly involved in the fight against COVID
  • Openings from businesses facing manpower challenges during this period

You can also access career-related resources to help with employment here, and interact virtually with employers for interviews

You’re eligible for Virtual Career Fair if:

  • You’re a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident

How do I apply?

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Career Support Programme

What’s this initiative?

  • Supports Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) made redundant or unemployed and actively looking for jobs for six months or more
  • You can take on new jobs paying a gross monthly salary of at least $4,000 ($3,600 for SMEs).

You’re eligible for Career Support Programme if:

You’re a Singapore Citizen PMET:

  • Aged 40 years and above, unemployed and actively looking for jobs for 6 months or more, or made redundant
  • Aged below 40 years, unemployed and actively looking for jobs for 6 months or more

How do I apply?

  • Contact WSG’s Careers Connect at 6883 5885 or NTUC’s e2i centres at 6474 0606.
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Courses to Upskill and Reskill

Check out these programmes:

SGUnited Skills

What’s this initiative?

  • Full-time training programme ranging from 6-12 months. Rolling out from July 2020.
  • Certifiable courses with a modular format, delivered by companies and Continuing Education Training (CET) Centers, including Institutes of Higher Learning.
  • Trainees will gain industry exposure, and can apply skills learnt in the programme through workplace immersions and industry projects.

What does it cost?

  • You get a training allowance of $1,200* per month for duration of programme
  • Course fees are highly subsidised; SkillsFuture Credits can be used to offset course fees.

You’re eligible for SGUnited Skills if:

  • You are a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident

How do I apply?

  • More information to come – programme will be rolled out progressively from July 2020.

*If you’re receiving COVID-19 Support Grant (CSG) or Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) payouts, you’ll receive a lower training allowance as you’re already receiving income relief.

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Self-Employed Person Training Support Scheme (NTUC Training Fund)

What’s this initiative?

  • Earn-and-learn initiative for Self-Employed Persons (SEPs) to acquire new skills by completing online courses.
  • SEPs can earn a training allowance of at least $10/hour.
  • SkillsFuture Credits can be used to subsidise course fees.

You’re eligible for NTUC Training Fund if:

  • You’re a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident.
  • You can show proof of self-employment using the Consolidated Statement of Income/Notice of Assessment for YA2020, submitted as a self-employed person.

How do I apply?

  • Apply for a letter of eligibility first.
  • Then, you can sign up for select courses under SkillsFuture Series and sector-specific training programmes.
  • After the training, submit your claims to SEP2020v3@e2i.com.sg. Refer to the e2i website for detailed, step-by-step information.
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Income Support

I am:

Or browse by support scheme:

Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS)

What’s this initiative?

  • Financial support for self-employed Singaporeans whose income has been affected by COVID-19.
  • Self-employed persons will receive $9,000 over 9 months. They will receive the payout in batches of $3,000, every 3 months (May, July and October).

You’re eligible for SIRS if:

  • You’re a Singapore citizen.
  • You started working as a self-employed person on or before 25 March 2020.
  • You earn a net trade income of no more than $100,000 a year.
  • You earn below $2,3000 a month as an employee outside of your self-employed business.
  • You live in a property with an annual value of below $21,000.
  • You don’t own 2 or more properties.
  • If you are married, you and your spouse do not own two or more properties together.
  • If you are married, your spouse’s assessable annual income is not more than $70,000.

How do I apply?

  • You are auto-included in SIRS If you’re 37 years old and above in 2020, and you had declared your self-employed income to IRAS for Financial Year 2018. You will receive your first payout in May 2020.
  • You need to apply for SIRS if you’re 36 years old and below. Apply for SIRS on the NTUC Portal here.

I didn’t qualify for SIRS. What can I do?

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COVID-19 Support Grant

What is this initiative?

  • Government-funded payout for people who were retrenched or terminated due to COVID-19.
  • $800/month for 3 months.
  • $500/month for 3 months for individuals who experienced 30% income loss for at least 3 consecutive months.

You’re eligible for COVID-19 Support Grant if:

  • You’re a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident, aged 16 years and above.
  • You’re presently unemployed due to retrenchment or contract termination brought about by COVID-19, or experiencing a 30% income loss for a period of at least 3 consecutive months.
  • You had been employed as a full-time, part-time permanent or contract staff prior to unemployment.
  • You had a monthly household income of below $10,000, or per capita monthly household income of below $3,100.
  • You live in a property with an annual value of below $21,000
  • You’re not currently receiving ComCare Short-to-Medium Term Assistance or ComCare Interim Assistance
  • You consent to actively search for a job, or attend a training programme under Workforce Singapore or the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).
  • You are not a Full-Time National Servicemen or intern. NSFs and interns are not eligible for this initiative.

What Supporting Documents must I provide?

  • Click here for the Supporting Documents you need to provide for your application.

How do I apply?

Submit an online application at www.go.gov.sg/CSG

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NTUC Care Fund (COVID-19)

What is this initiative?

  • One-off cash relief for NTUC members
  • $300 or $100 for existing members as of 1 March 2020
  • $200 or $50 for new members as of 1 March 2020
  • Payout differs according to the eligibility criteria

You’re eligible for NTUC Care Fund (COVID-19) if:

  • You’re an NTUC member.
  • You suffered a 30% income loss due to COVID-19, OR
  • You’re a self-employed person whose jobs or events have been cancelled due to COVID-19, OR
  • You’re retrenched, and receive payouts of less than $6,500.

How do I apply?

  • If you’re a NTUC-affiliated union/association member, or if you’re a member working in a unionised company, complete and submit this application form to your union.
  • If you’re working in a non-unionised company, complete and submit this application form, and refer to this page for submission instructions.
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Workfare Income Supplement Scheme (WIS) Enhancements

What is this initiative?

  • Higher annual WIS Payouts of up to $4,000

You’re eligible for WIS Enhancements if:

  • You’re a Singapore citizen.
  • You’re 35 years old or above.
  • You earn an average gross monthly income of below $2,300.
  • You do not live in a property with an annual value of more than $13,000.
  • You and your spouse do not own two or more properties.
  • Your spouse’s assessable income does not exceed $70,000.

How do I apply?

  • If you’re employed, you don’t need to do anything. You will be automatically assessed based on your employer’s CPF contribution.
  • If you’re self-employed, declare your income to IRAS or CPFB and make the required MediSave contributions. You will be assessed the following year for your eligibility.
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Workfare Special Payment

What is this initiative?

  • Cash payout of $3,000 to all eligible Singaporeans, which will be paid over 2 equal payments of $1,500 each in July and October 2020.

You’re eligible for Workfare Special Payment if:

  • You have received Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) payments in Work Year 2019.

How do I apply?

  • No application is necessary.
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Chinese Development Assistance Council Assistance for the Retrenched

What is this initiative?

  • One-time financial payout to individuals who had been retrenched from January 2020.
  • $100 cash payout per applicant, up to a maximum $400 per family (depending on household size).

You’re eligible for CDAC Assistance if:

  • You were retrenched in 2020
  • You’re unemployed at the point of application
  • You or at least one of your family members are Chinese Singaporean Citizens or Permanent Residents
  • Your gross monthly household income does not exceed $2,400, or gross per capita income does not exceed $800

How do I apply?

  • Complete this application form and submit it with supporting documents to CDAC HQ by 30 June 2020.
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List of Government Job Support Platforms

List of Professional Course Providers

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Return to Ultimate Singapore Job Search Hub

Harry Suresh
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