Enhanced Training Support Package and Enhanced Absentee Payroll to mitigate COVID-19

The Enhanced Training Support Package (ETSP) was first introduced by DPM Heng Swee Keat in the Stabilisation and Support Package and supplementary Resilience Budget to help sectors which were directly and severely affected by COVID-19.
 
Enterprises (SMEs and non-SMEs) in the (1) tourism, (2) air transport, (3) retail, (4) food and beverage (F&B), (5) point-to-point transport and private hire bus transport, (6) arts & culture, (7) aerospace, and (8) marine & offshore sectors, would be eligible for the ETSP, comprising enhanced Absentee Payroll (AP) funding rate and enhanced course fee subsidies. This is to support enterprises who send their workers for selected sector-specific training programmes by SSG-appointed training partners for courses starting before 1 Jan 2021.
 
AP funding is not applicable for self-employed persons (SEPs), as there are other government schemes supporting SEPs e.g. COVID-19 Recovery Grant (CRG). From 1 May 2020, the enhanced absentee payroll rates was extended to cover all sectors.
 
In Oct 2020, the ETSP was extended by six months to cover eligible courses starting before 1 July 2021.

During the Committee of Supply Debate 2021, it was announced that ETSP will be further extended for another six months to cover eligible courses starting before 1 January 2022. Companies in the selected sectors will continue to enjoy enhanced course fee subsidies at up to 90% of course fees for selected sector-specific programmes. Companies in all sectors will be eligible for absentee payroll funding at 80% of hourly basic salary, capped at $7.50 per hour*. 

*This applies to all courses that are eligible for absentee payroll funding today, e.g. selected courses by SSG-appointed CET Centres or certifiable courses by other SSG-approved training providers.  Employers are advised to check with the training providers on the courses that are eligible for absentee payroll funding.

What does it cover?

All employers are advised to check with the training providers on the courses that are eligible for funding under ETSP. All employers can tap on the enhanced absentee payroll funding for eligible courses. Employers in the eight (8) selected sectors (Tourism, Air Transport, F&B, Retail, point-to-point transport and private hire bus transport, Arts & Culture, Aerospace and Marine & Offshore sectors) can also enjoy the enhanced course fee funding for selected sector-specific courses.

The training will focus on priority and emerging skills that each sector requires. Examples of these courses include:

1. Training in sector-specific priority skills such as:

   Tourism	Foster Service Innovation, Quality Visitor Experience through Immersive Technology, Cultural Savviness & Diversity Service Inclusion and Understanding Visitors
   Air Transport	Dangerous Goods Handling, Perishables Handling, International Travel Regulations
   Retail	Customer Experience Innovation, Productivity Management, Digital Marketing, Immersive Technology
   Food & Beverage	Culinary Arts, Process Innovation, Managing Cost and Quality Control, Search Engine Advertising
   Arts & Culture	Pedagogy for Performing Arts Instructors, Digital Media (art-making and outreach), Audience Engagement, e-Commerce Campaign Management
   Point-to-Point Transport and Private Hire Bus Transport	Understanding of Electric Vehicles, Vehicle Safety and Maintenance, Safe & Defensive Driving
   Aerospace	Quality & Safety Management System in Aerospace, WSQ Perform Aircraft General Maintenance
   Marine & Offshore	Electrical Power Engineering, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Bunkering, and Shipyard Safety

2. Training in sector-specific emerging digital skills, such as:

Enterprises with registered business activities in the eight (8) sectors listed above can sign up for courses with the appointed training partners and apply for enhanced AP.

These companies only need to pay the nett course fees (i.e. course fees after the enhanced SSG subsidy), and eligible companies will receive the enhanced AP from the appointed training partners, once their employees have completed the training and passed the assessment.

Interested enterprises may approach the following training providers for more information.

Enterprises in all other sectors may apply for the enhanced AP via the Enterprise Portal for Jobs & Skills (EPJS).

Click here for the FAQs.