FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR THE RESKILLING FOR JOBS WORK TRIAL A B C TABLE OF CONTENTS General Questions Job Seeker-Specific Questions Employer-Specific Questions A Questions and Answers General Questions 1. What is the Reskilling for Jobs Work Trial ( Work Trial ) about? The Reskilling for Jobs Work Trial is part of the suite of career services offered by Workforce Singapore (WSG) and the Employment and Employability Institute (NTUC s e2i) for locals to try out new jobs to enhance their employability through a short-term stint with an employer. The Work Trial was introduced from 1 May 2016 for a period of 3 years. 2. What is the Adapt & Grow Initiative about? The Adapt and Grow initiative aims to enhance employment support to help Singaporeans adapt to changing job demands and improve their skills. Job seekers, particularly the rank-and-file, can benefit from the Work Trial to explore new job opportunities they would like to try out. 3. What are the enhancements to the Work Trial? The Work Trial duration has been extended from the current maximum of 80 hours to a maximum of 480 hours, or 3 months equivalent, to allow both employers and individuals more time to assess job fit. Singapore Citizens (SC) and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) who have been unemployed and actively looking for jobs for at least 12 months or more, and participated in Work Trial can receive an additional $1,000 Retention Incentive if they stay in the job for at least 6 months. This is on top of the existing Retention Incentive that they would receive if they stay in the job for at least 3 months. Employers who hire these individuals can receive salary support at 30% of monthly salary, capped at $600 per month for 6 months. The enhanced Work Trial will take effect from 1 Apr 2017. Version 2.0 (Information accurate as at 1 April 2017) Page 1 of 10
4. What is the duration of the Work Trial? The Work Trial duration is from 16 hours up to 480 hours, i.e. 3 months. 5. Who can qualify for the Work Trial? For Companies Registered or incorporated in Singapore Offer Work Trial opportunities to suitable individuals For Individuals SC or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) aged 16 years and above Currently not employed before commencing Work Trial Version 2.0 (Information accurate as at 1 April 2017) Page 2 of 10
B Job Seeker-Specific Questions 6. How will the Work Trial benefit rank-and-file job seekers? Rank-and-file locals who have been unemployed, and are actively looking for jobs will be able to gain skills and job experience in a real work environment through the short-term work trial with a host company, which will help them to transit into new jobs. 7. How do rank-and-file job seekers participate in the Work Trial? Job seekers interested in the Work Trial can contact participating employers to sign up for the Work Trial. Please go to List of Jobs : www.wsg.gov.sg/worktrial_individuals for more details on the Work Trial positions. Job seekers can also approach WSG Career Centres or Employment and Employability Institute (NTUC s e2i) for assistance. WSG Career Centres Hotline: 6883 5885 Email: https://portal.ssg-wsg.gov.sg Employment and Employability Institute (NTUC s e2i) Hotline: 6474 0606 Email: followup@e2i.com.sg 8. Can PMET job seekers participate in the Work Trial? Yes, PMET job seekers can contact WSG Career Centres and NTUC s e2i to find out more about Work Trial. PMET job seekers are encouraged to find out more about other programmes such as the Career Support Programme (CSP), and the Professional Conversion Programme (PCP), which are targeted to help PMET job seekers to reskill and be placed into jobs. 9. Do job seekers need to be registered with the WSG Career Centres/NTUC s e2i to be eligible for the Work Trial? Job seekers can enroll in the Work Trial directly with any participating employers as long as he/she meets the eligibility criteria. However, to qualify for the incentives and for claims processing, job seekers must be registered with the WSG Career Centres or NTUC s e2i at the point of claim. Version 2.0 (Information accurate as at 1 April 2017) Page 3 of 10
10. Can job seekers drop out during the Work Trial? Yes, job seekers must inform the host company and WSG/NTUC s e2i with reason if he/she chooses to drop out from the Work Trial. 11. Can job seekers submit multiple claims for the Training Allowance (TA) and/or Retention Incentive (RI)? For job seekers whose work trial duration is more than 1 month, claims can be submitted on a monthly basis based on the work trial duration for the month. Eligible job seekers can only receive the RI if he/she fulfils the retention duration. 12. What is the Training Allowance (TA)? The one-off TA is to help defray a portion of job seekers expenses incurred during the Work Trial. 13. What is the Retention Incentive (RI)? The RI is to incentivise job seekers who have completed the Work Trial to find job and stay in the job for at least 3 consecutive months. Singapore Citizen (SC) and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) who have been unemployed and are actively looking for jobs for at least 12 months or more can receive an additional $1,000 Retention Incentive if they stay in the job for at least 6 months. 14. Who are those eligible for the Retention Incentive (RI)? Job seekers who fulfil the following requirements are eligible for the RI: a) Completed the Work Trial; b) Employed in a job for at least 3 consecutive months with the company; and a) Have not make any claim for the RI under the Work Trial. 15. Who are those eligible for the additional Retention Incentive (RI)? Singapore Citizens (SC) and Person with Disabilities (PWD) who have been unemployed and are actively looking for jobs for at least 12 months or more, and participated in the Work Trial can receive additional Retention Incentives if they stay in the job for at least 6 months. The additional RI is only available to job seekers who have commenced job on or after 1 Apr 2017. Version 2.0 (Information accurate as at 1 April 2017) Page 4 of 10
16. With the provision of additional Retention Incentive (RI) to Singapore Citizen (SC) and Person with Disabilities (PWD) who are unemployed and are actively looking for jobs for 12 months or more under the enhanced Work Trial, will eligible job seekers qualify for the additional RI if he/she commence the job before 1 Apr 2017? No, eligible job seekers will not receive the additional RI if he/she commence a job before 1 Apr 2017. 17. Can eligible job seekers qualify for the Retention Incentive (RI) if he/she is not working full time? Yes, eligible job seekers can qualify for the RI if he/she is employed in a full time/part time permanent position for at least 3 consecutive months with the same employer. 18. Can eligible job seekers qualify for the Retention Incentive if he/she has resigned/ was terminated from the company and was not retained for at least 3 months of employment? No, eligible job seekers cannot qualify for RI if he/she did not stay in a job for at least 3 consecutive months with the same employer. 19. Can eligible job seekers qualify for the Retention Incentive (RI) if he/she was not offered a job by the host company after completion the Work Trial? Yes, eligible job seekers will qualify for the RI if he/she can find a job with an employer and stay in the job for at least 3 consecutive months. 20. After completion of the Work Trial, will WSG/NTUC s e2i prompt eligible job seekers to submit their claim? No, the responsibility is on job seekers to submit Work Trial claim documents to WSG/NTUC s e2i. 21. If job seekers missed the timeline for submission for the Training Allowance (TA), can they still make the claims? Yes, eligible job seekers can combine both claims for the TA and RI and submit it to WSG/NTUC s e2i concurrently. Submission of claims should be made within 120 working days after the 3 rd month of consecutive employment. Version 2.0 (Information accurate as at 1 April 2017) Page 5 of 10
22. How do eligible job seekers claim for the Work Trial Training Allowances (TA) and Retention Incentive (RI), and what are the documents required for claim? Eligible job seekers can approach WSG/e2i s Career Centres to submit their claims documents or login with a SingPass to upload the documents via https://portal.ssgwsg.gov.sg. Please refer to the Infokit for Job Seeker for more details. To claim for the TA, eligible job seekers must furnish the following documents to WSG/NTUC s e2i within 30 working days from the end of the Work Trial period: 1. Trainee s Details Form; and 2. Signed copy of the claim form. To claim for the RI, eligible job seekers must furnish the following documents to WSG/NTUC s e2i within 120 working days after the third month of consecutive employment: 1. Salary slips/cpf contribution statements for at least 3 consecutive months from the start date of the employment; and 2. Signed copy of the claim form. To claim for the additional RI, eligible job seekers must furnish salary slips/cpf contribution statements for at least 6 months of consecutive employment to WSG/NTUC s e2i after completion of Work Trial. 23. After submission of the Retention Incentive (RI) at the third month mark, will WSG prompt eligible job seekers to submit their claim for the additional RI at the 6 month retention mark? Yes, there will be reminders from WSG to eligible job seekers to submit salary slips/cpf contribution statements of at least 6 consecutive months to claim for the additional RI. 24. Will eligible job seekers be paid CPF for the Training Allowance and Retention Incentive under the Work Trial? No, eligible job seekers will not receive CPF contributions during the Work Trial as the job seekers are not formal employees of the host company. 25. Will eligible job seekers be covered by insurance under the Work Trial? Yes, eligible job seekers under the Work Trial will be covered by insurance paid for by WSG/NTUC s e2i. Version 2.0 (Information accurate as at 1 April 2017) Page 6 of 10
C Employer-Specific Questions 26. How will the Reskilling for Jobs Work Trial benefit employers? Employers who are registered as a host company under the Work Trial will have an opportunity to assess the job fit of a potential employee at no cost. 27. How can employers register and what are the documents required for the Work Trial? Employers can approach WSG/NTUC s e2i via email to register their interest for the Work Trial. An acknowledgment email will be sent to employers who have successfully registered for the Work Trial. Employers can also register via www.wsg.gov.sg/worktrial_employers to submit the Work Trial Application Form and Work Trial Activities. Please download Info-kit for Company (www.wsg.gov.sg/worktrial_employers) for more details. 28. What are the funding support for employers under the enhanced Work Trial? Work Trial is cost free to the employers. Employers can benefit from assessing job seeker s job fit before offering employment. Employers who hire Singapore Citizen (SC) or Person with Disabilities (PWD) SCs who have been unemployed and are actively looking for jobs for at least 12 months or more can receive salary support of up to 30% monthly salary support, capped at $600 per month for 6 months. Salary support to employers is only for employers who hire eligible job seekers on or after 1 Apr 2017. 29. With the provision of salary support to employers under the enhancement, will the employer be eligible for the salary support if the SC/PWD is hired before 1 Apr 2017? No, the salary support under the enhanced Work Trial is only available to employers who hire eligible job seekers on or after 1 Apr 2017. 30. Can employers vary the Work Trial duration? Yes, employers have the flexibility to customise the Work Trial duration between 16 hours and 480 hours specific to the job vacancy. Version 2.0 (Information accurate as at 1 April 2017) Page 7 of 10
31. If employers found a prospective job seeker on their own, can they recruit and place the job seeker under the Work Trial? Yes, employers can recruit and place the job seeker under the Work Trial provided that the company is registered with WSG/NTUC s e2i as a host company. Employers must also submit a copy of the Trainee s Detail to inform WSG/NTUC s e2i before the commencement of Work Trial. 32. How do employers submit the Work Trial Activities? Employers are required to list down the Work Trial activities perform by the job seeker during the Work Trial, and submit it together with the Work Trial Application Form to WSG/NTUC s e2i for approval. 33. Do employers need to wait for the Work Trial Activities to be approved by WSG/NTUC s e2i before accepting job seekers for the Work Trial? Yes, employers need to obtain approval from WSG/NTUC s e2i on the Work Trial activities before accepting and providing the Work Trial to job seekers. 34. How many Work Trial positions can employers offered under the Work Trial? Companies registered under the Work Trial can offer up to 20 Work Trial positions per job vacancy over 3 months. 35. If employers have more than one Work Trial position, can employers submit multiple Work Trial Activities to WSG/NTUC s e2i concurrently? 36. Yes, employers can submit multiple Work Trial Activities customised for each position to WSG/NTUC s e2i for approval. 37. Can employers offer more than one Work Trial position to multiple job seekers concurrently? Yes, employers who are registered under the Work Trial can accept and offer Work Trial to multiple job seekers. 38. What happens if the Work Trial Activities submitted by employers are rejected by WSG/NTUC s e2i? Employers can request a sample copy from WSG/NTUC s e2i of the Work Trial Activities and revise it before resubmitting it to WSG/NTUC s e2i for approval. Version 2.0 (Information accurate as at 1 April 2017) Page 8 of 10
39. Can employers discontinue the Work Trial prematurely after the Work Trial has commenced? Yes, employers can discontinue the Work Trial prematurely with the trainee after the Work Trial has commenced if they find that the job seeker is not suitable for the job role. 40. Do employers need to offer employment to job seekers after the Work Trial? Employers should offer employment to suitable job seekers after assessing the job seeker s job fit. Employers are required to inform the job seekers if he/she is employed after completion of the Work Trial. 41. How can employers claim for the salary support under the Work Trial, and what are the documents required for claim? Employers can submit a copy of DCA Form to WSG to claim for the salary support under the Work Trial in 2 tranches. Employers will be reimbursed based on the actual gross monthly salary paid to the employee during the employment period. 1 st tranche: To claim for salary support for the first 3 months of employment, claims should be made between the 4 th and 6 th month from the job commencement date of the new hire. 2 nd tranche: To claim for salary support for the next 3 month of employment, claims should be made between the 7 th and 9 th month from the job commencement date of the new hire. Employers can login with their Singpass and upload salary slips/cpf contribution statements of at least 3/6 consecutive months of the employee via https://portal.ssgwsg.gov.sg to claim for the 1 st and 2 nd tranche of the salary support. Please refer the Infokit for Company for more details. 42. If employers missed the timeline for submission for the 1 st tranche of claims, can employers still submit the claim? Yes, the employers can combine both claims for 1 st and 2 nd tranches and submit it concurrently to WSG/NTUC s e2i. Submission of claims should be made within 12 months from the start date of employment. 43. After submission of claim for the salary support at the 3 rd month mark, will WSG prompt employers to submit their claim for the salary support at the 6 th month retention mark? Yes, there will be reminders from WSG to employers to submit salary slips/cpf contribution statements of the new hire of at least 6 consecutive months to claim for the salary support. Version 2.0 (Information accurate as at 1 April 2017) Page 9 of 10
44. Can employers qualify for the salary support if the job seeker has resigned / was terminated from the company and did not complete the first 3 months of employment? No. Employers can qualify for the salary support only if the job seeker stay on the job for at least three consecutive months. 45. Can employers qualify for the salary support if the job seeker has resigned / was terminated from the company after 3 months? Yes, employers can qualify for the salary support so long as the job seeker stay on the job for at least three months. Claims will be reimbursed based on the actual gross monthly salary paid out by employers for the employment period which the job seeker was hired for. However, the claim submission has to be made within a year from the work commencement date of the new hire. 46. If employers do not qualify for the Work Trial, are there any similar programmes? There are currently other existing schemes such as WSG and NTUC s e2i s Place and Train (PnT) programmes that help employers recruit locals. The PnT programmes, including Professional Conversion Programmes, are geared to help job seekers to re-skill themselves through a structured training. Employers will interview and hire the potential job seekers before the jobseekers commence the training. Employers can contact WSG/NTUC s e2i for more information on the PnT programmes. WSG Career Centres Hotline: 6883 5885 Email: https://portal.ssg-wsg.gov.sg NTUC s e2i Hotline: 6474 0606 Email: followup@e2i.com.sg Version 2.0 (Information accurate as at 1 April 2017) Page 10 of 10