Clarification on several points related to Jobs Support Scheme

• Lianhe Zaobao (3 Jun 2020): "Doubts over Jobs Support Scheme"

Clarification on several points related to Jobs Support Scheme - Lianhe Zaobao, 6 Jun 2020

1. We refer to the letter “雇佣补贴计划的疑惑” (3 Jun) in Lianhe Zaobao.
2. Under the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS), all employers, excluding government organisations and representative offices, are eligible for wage support for the local workers they employ. The level of wage support ranges from 25% to 75%, depending on the impact faced by each sector. All employers would have received 75% support for April and May 2020 wages due to the circuit breaker. Employers who are not allowed to resume operations immediately after the circuit breaker will receive 75% support until they are allowed to do so or until August 2020, whichever is earlier.
3. Employers do not need to apply for the scheme. IRAS will notify eligible employers by post or electronic notices on the amount of JSS payout payable to them. 
4. Employers have the flexibility to allocate the subsidies for their businesses as necessary to keep the business running so as to retain their employees. As employers do face other cost pressures, they may request employees to clear some of their paid annual leave or even go on no-pay leave if the financial situation of the employer is very dire, in order to avoid the worse alternative of retrenchment. However, employers should note that if they reduce wages or put their employees on no-pay leave for part of the month, the relevant JSS payouts will decrease accordingly. Employers should also not act unilaterally and put employees on pro-longed no-pay leave without any form of wage support. In this difficult time, both employees and employers should mutually agree on the work and salary adjustments, taking reference from the Advisory on salary and leave arrangements during Circuit Breaker and the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment.
5. Employees who would like to report any irresponsible or unfair practices by their employers can file a complaint at www.mom.gov.sg/lsa for MOM to investigate. More details on the JSS can be found on the IRAS website.
   
   Kelly Wee (Ms)
   Director (Corporate Communications)
   Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
   
   Then Yee Thoong (Mr)
   Divisional Director, Labour Relations and Workplaces
   Ministry of Manpower

Doubts over Jobs Support Scheme - Lianhe Zaobao, 3 June 2020

Translated article:

I have some questions to clarify with the Ministry of Manpower, but couldn’t get through its hotline for several days as no one answered my call. Instead, I have to send a letter to the newspaper and hope that the relevant authorities could answer it.

First, I like to know whether every local salaried employee qualifies for the 75% wage subsidy provided by the government.

Secondly, I would like to know if the subsidies would be automatically given to employers that meet the criteria, or do they have to apply themselves? How do we, as employees, know that our employers have received this sum of money?

Thirdly, if our employers receive the subsidies given under the Jobs Support Scheme, do they have to give their employees their salary or can they choose not to, forcing employees to take unpaid leave and encouraging them to apply for the $800 subsidy?

Zhuo Meihua