Written Answer to PQ on The Workfare Income Supplement Scheme

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2262 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 5 OCTOBER 2023
QUESTION NO. 5245 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Mr Gan Thiam Poh

To ask the Minister for Manpower whether the Government will review and revise the workfare income supplement scheme to expand the age groups and the amount.

Answer:

1. The Workfare Income Supplement Scheme was recently enhanced in January 2023. As part of the enhancements, we extended Workfare to younger lower-income workers aged 30 to 34 years, from 35 years and older previously. We also increased the maximum Workfare payments to $4,200 per year, up from $4,000 per year previously.

2. Workfare is not provided to workers aged below 30, as most of them would have just started work and earning starting wages. Most of them would have the potential for future wage growth and it will be premature to consider them for Workfare.

3. As announced by PM Lee at National Day Rally 2023, the Government will be further enhancing Workfare. More details will be announced at next year’s Budget.

4. The Government has also recently announced a $1.1 billion Cost-of-Living Support Package in September, which provides additional relief for all Singaporean households, with more support for lower- to middle-income families. This package builds on the existing support provided to households at Budget 2023. Combined, the support provided this year will, on average:

a. Fully cover the increases in spending by lower-income households this year, due to inflation and the GST rate increase; and

b. Substantially cover the increases in spending by middle-income households.