Over $24.5 billion to retain and cover wages of over 2 million local workers since Unity Budget

1              Over 150,000 employers are due to receive payouts totalling over $3 billion from 30 March 2021 under the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) to support the wages of over 2 million local employees. Employers who have made mandatory CPF contributions for their local employees for the months of September – December 2020 by the stipulated deadlines will qualify to receive the payout. With this payout, over $24.5 billion of JSS support would have been disbursed since the introduction of the scheme at the Unity Budget in February 2020.

2          For the upcoming payout in March, employers will receive up to 50% support for the first $4,600 of gross monthly wages paid in September, October, November and December 2020. Employers in the aviation, aerospace, and tourism sectors will receive 50% support; while those in food services, retail, arts and entertainment, land transport, and marine and offshore will receive 30% support. Employers in the built environment sector will receive 50% support for wages paid in September and October 2020, and 30% for November and December 2020 wages. Employers in all other sectors will receive 10% support.

3         As the economy re-opens in phases after the Circuit Breaker, firms that are not allowed to resume on-site operations will continue to receive 50% support until they are allowed to do so, or until March 2021, whichever is earlier.

4          Eligible employers will be notified by post of their payout amount later this month. They can also log in to myTax Portal to view the electronic copy of their letter.

Delay in JSS payouts for 5,500 employers 

5       The March 2021 payouts for about 5,500 employers will be delayed to end-April 2021, pending a reconciliation by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on firms’ re-opening dates used in the computation of JSS payouts. All affected employers will be notified via letters and emails. They can also check via go.gov.sg/JSSreopeningdate. More information will be provided following the completion of the reconciliation.

Earlier payouts for employers with PayNow Corporate or GIRO

6          Employers with PayNow Corporate or GIRO arrangements with IRAS can expect to receive the JSS payouts from 30 March 2021. Other employers will receive their cheques from 5 April 2021.

Up to 23 months of wage support for businesses in hard-hit sectors

7          As announced in the Budget Statement on 16 February 2021, the JSS will be extended by up to 6 months for firms in sectors that continue to be hard-hit, covering wages paid up to September 2021. With the extension of the JSS, these businesses will receive wage support for up to 23 months since the introduction of the scheme at the Unity Budget to help them retain their workers.

8          For more information, please visit go.gov.sg/jss.

Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore

Ministry of Finance