Mr Don Wee asked the Minister for Manpower in lieu of using of foreign worker quota adjustments as a lever to incentivise companies to hire special needs workers, what alternative measures are being considered to support companies that employ Singaporeans with special needs, particularly in managing operational challenges.
Dr Tan See Leng: There are several measures today that support companies that employ Singaporeans with special needs. The Open Door Programme (ODP) provides employers with up to one year of complimentary recruitment and job support services. SG Enable, the focal agency for disability and inclusion in Singapore, supports companies in adapting the job role and work environment to better suit persons with disabilities (PwDs). The Job Redesign Grant, under the ODP, covers up to 90% of the cost of job redesign and workplace modifications for employees with disabilities. The ODP Training Grant provides course fee subsidies of up to 90% for courses, such as SG Enable's High Impact Recruitment and Employment workshops, which provide a comprehensive and structured training framework for employers hiring PwDs. The Enabling Employment Credit, which was enhanced in 2023, provides wage support for employers to offset the cost of hiring PwDs earning below $4,000 a month.
We encourage employers to tap on the various measures to support employment of PwDs. The Government will continue to review these measures to ensure that we can better support the employment of PwDs and their employers.
