Getting Ahead
in My Career
How can I improve
my employability?
Will I have enough
to pay for my
How can I plan
essential needs?
for my career?
Just ask me!
Last updated 11 May 2016
MAKING LIFE’S
JOURNEY BETTER
No matter which stage of life you are at – getting married, starting a
family, caring for elderly parents, looking for a new job or planning for
retirement – the right support and assistance can make life’s journey a
little smoother.
In this series of booklets, you’ll find quick tips and a broad overview of
government policies and schemes related to life issues like healthcare,
housing, transport and education so that you are better informed to
begin the next stage in life, tackle unexpected challenges and discover
suitable opportunities to get ahead.
Making Life’s Journey Better
There are three booklets in this series:
Caring for My Family
Getting Ahead in My Career
Caring for Seniors
Get your copy at the nearest Community Centre/Club (CC)!
ASK KOPI KAKIS!
Ken and his kakis* are well-known in the neighbourhood for their
friendly smiles and cheerful small talk that puts everyone at ease. Ken
keeps everyone updated on all the latest happenings, and if you need
help, he is the person to go to. He is reliable and knows all the lobang,
tips and contacts that can help you kick start each stage of your life with
the perfect blend of knowledge and wisdom. He even provides a quick
and simple sharing about government schemes that you can benefit from!
Like everyone else, Ken has encountered
setbacks in life, but he knows from
experience that there are many helping
hands out there, just like his trusted
kakis. You just need to know where to go
and who to ask. So if you need help and
support, just ask Ken and his kakis!
* Kaki – Malay for good friend
2
GETTING AHEAD IN MY CAREER
MANAGING YOUR WORKING
LIFE, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
Planning for Your Career Pg4
Explore your options
Starting Your Career Pg5
Contents
Help for your job search
Getting Your
Finances Together Pg6
Tips on healthcare, retirement and more
Adopting Lifelong Learning Pg9
Upgrade your skills to stay relevant
Enjoying Additional Support Pg11
Tax reliefs and grants
PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION
3
PLANNING FOR YOUR CAREER
Explore your options
Besides career guidance in schools, there
are many programmes and schemes to help
students like me make informed choices.
SkillsFuture: Strengthening Education & Career Guidance
• Structured and comprehensive system to enable individuals to make better education and
career choices in school and beyond graduation.
Planning For Your Career
SkillsFuture: Enhanced Internships
• Collaborations with industry partners to provide ITE and polytechnic students with meaningful
internships, which better connect their learning to the workplace and deepen their skills so they
are prepared to transition to the workplace.
SkillsFuture Earn & Learn Programme
• A 12- to 18-month work-study programme to give fresh graduates from ITE and polytechnics
opportunities to undergo structured on-the-job training and mentorship, to give them a head
start in careers related to their disciplines.
• Successful applicants will receive a sign-on incentive of $5,000.
MOM: 6438 5122 / WDA: 6883 5885 / MOE:6872 2220
www.skillsfuture.sg
Young Talent Programme
•Offering ITE, polytechnic and local university students overseas internships to gain valuable
market experience and an enhanced global work exposure so that they may take on future
global careers.
IE: 1800 437 7673
www.iesingapore.gov.sg
Want to find out which job best suits your personality type?
Visit www.wda.gov.sg (Go to: For Individuals > Job Profiler for Individuals).
4
GETTING AHEAD IN MY CAREER
STARTING YOUR CAREER
Help for your job search
I’m ready to begin my job search.
Where can I start?
Searching for a job that suits you is
now easier with these online portals!
Jobs Bank
•An online one-stop portal to facilitate job matching between local individuals and employers.
Starting Your Career
WDA (Jobs Bank): 6883 5885
www.jobsbank.gov.sg
Supporting Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
•Open Door Job Programme (www.jobs-odp.sg) for employers to post jobs and for
jobseekers with disabilities to apply for jobs.
•Training grants and allowances for PWDs to attend subsidised pre-employment and
skills training.
• No age limit for Workfare Training Support
• More jobs in Public Sector agencies
MSF (SG Enable): 1800 8585 885
www.sgenable.sg
My disability has never stopped me
from doing the best I can, and there are
opportunities out there for me!
PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION
5
GETTING YOUR FINANCES
TOGETHER
Tips on healthcare, retirement and more
As we begin our careers, how can we
better plan for our financial needs?
CPF savings have helped my wife and
I pay for our essential needs and plan
for our retirement. Here are tips on
what your CPF can be used for.
Getting
Your
Finances
Together
MAKING
LIFE’S
JOURNEY
BETTER
Saving with CPF
What is CPF (Central Provident Fund)?
CPF is a social security system that enables working Singaporeans to set
aside funds for retirement. It also addresses needs such as healthcare and
home ownership.
How much do working adults contribute
to their CPF accounts?
Both employees and employers make monthly CPF contributions
By employer
(% of wage)
By employee
(% of wage)
Total
(% of wage)
7.5
5
12.5
Above 60 – 65
9
7.5
16.5
Above 55 – 60
13
13
26
Above 50 – 55
17
20
37
50 and below
17
20
37
Employee’s Age
Above 65
Contribution rates from 1 January 2016
6
GETTING AHEAD IN MY CAREER
Which accounts do our CPF contributions go into?
Ordinary Account
Special Account
Medisave Account
Up to 3.5% per year*
Up to 5% per year*
Up to 5% per year*
For housing, investment,
education and
approved insurance
For old age and investment
in retirement related
financial products
For hospitalisation
expenses and approved
medical insurance
CPF Education
Scheme
CPF Retirement Sum
Topping Up Scheme
• Use up to 40% or less
of your OA savings
for your own or family
members’ subsidised
tuition fees
• Make cash top-ups to
your SA or Retirement
Account (for those age
55 and above)
• Claim up to $14,000
tax relief for topping up
yours and your family
members’ CPF Special/
Retirement accounts.
MediShield Life
• Basic national healthcare
insurance scheme that
covers everyone, for life.
Getting Your Finances Together
Cash Top-Up Relief
Medical Expenses
• Pay for medical care and
hospitalisation expenses for
yourself or your immediate
family members.
• Various types of premium
subsidies. More support
for those who need
additional help.
Integrated Shield
Plans (IPs)
The interest rate is
much better than
the banks! And it
is guaranteed by
our government.
I like that!
OA/SA/MA
CPF: 1800 227 1188
mycpf.cpf.gov.sg
Healthcare-Related Schemes
MOH: 6325 9220
www.moh.gov.sg
• Medisave-approved
insurance plans which
are integrated with basic
Medishield
• Extra coverage for
Class A/B1 and private
wards in public and private
hospitals
ElderShield
• An affordable severe
disability insurance
scheme that provides
monthly cash payouts for
up to 72 months
• Auto coverage at age 40
for all Medisave account
holders.
* Prevailing interest rate for respective CPF accounts. Interest rates are reviewed quarterly.
PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION
7
Saving More for Retirement
Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS)
CPF
• Voluntary scheme to encourage individuals to save for retirement,
over and above CPF savings.
• Contributions to SRS are eligible for tax relief.
Ever wondered about investing your CPF
monies to boost your retirement savings?
Check out mycpf.cpf.gov.sg
(Go to: CPF Schemes > Optimising my CPF > CPF Investment
Schemes).
CPF: 1800 227 1188
mycpf.cpf.gov.sg
Getting
Your
Finances
Together
MAKING
LIFE’S
JOURNEY
BETTER
From 1 July 2017, the Re-employment age will be raised to 67. This means that
employers must offer re-employment to eligible employees who turn 65, up
to the age of 67. Wage cut provision for older workers will also be removed.
Older and Low-Income Workers
Workfare Income Supplement Scheme
• Cash and CPF payouts up to 4 times a year for older lowerwage* workers who work regularly.
• Depending on your age, receive funding support between
$1,400 and $3,500 a year.
Workfare: 1800 222 6622
www.workfare.gov.sg
*Workers must be aged 35 and above and earn $1,900 and below
From 1 Jan 2017, income ceiling will be raised from $1,900 to $2,000 a month.
Payouts will be monthly instead of quarterly. Eligible employees may receive up to
$3,600 a year.
Higher CPF Interest Rates for Older Workers
• CPF interest rates for members aged 55 years and above from 1 January 2016:
CPF Combined Balances
Interest Rate
First $30,000
6%
Next $30,000
5%
Balances over $60,000
4%
CPF: 1800 227 1188
mycpf.cpf.gov.sg
8
GETTING AHEAD IN MY CAREER
ADOPTING LIFELONG LEARNING
Upgrade your skills to stay relevant
How can I keep learning to improve my
employability?
No matter where you are in life — early in your
career, mid-way, or in your silver years — you
will find a variety of resources that can help you
gain mastery in your current job or even gain
new skills for a better career.
SkillsFuture Credits
Adopting Lifelong Learning
•From 2016, $500 credit is given to all Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above (or upon
reaching age 25).
• May be used for courses subsidised by WDA, courses offered by MOE-funded PostSecondary Education Institutions and courses supported by other public agencies.
SkillsFuture Study Awards
• A monetary award of up to $5,000 to help Singapore Citizens in the early to mid stages of
their careers to develop and deepen their skills.
I want to learn something new.
I want to make a mid-career
switch.
I want to deepen my skills.
PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION
9
SkillsFuture Fellowship Scheme
• From 2016, $10,000 cash awards for selected mid-career Singapore Citizens to be used for a
range of education and training options to help them achieve mastery in their fields.
SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy
• Singaporeans aged 40 and above will enjoy higher subsidies of up to 90% of programme cost
for MOE-funded and WDA-supported courses.
Skills-Based Modular Courses
• More than 300 skills-based modular courses will be launched at universities and polytechnics
to offer working adults the opportunity to develop skills in focused areas.
MOM: 6438 5122 / WDA: 6883 5885 / MOE:6872 2220
www.skillsfuture.sg
Adopting Lifelong Learning
Workfare Training Support Scheme
• For workers aged 35 and above and not earning more than $1,900 a month
95% course fee funding for a wide range of courses.
• Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WWSQ) courses.
• Part-time ITE Skills Certificate.
• Part-time programmes offered by the five local polytechnics.
From 1 January 2017, income ceiling will be raised from $1,900 to $2,000 a month and will extend
to persons with disabilities aged 13 years old and above
Workfare: 1800 222 6622
www.workfare.gov.sg / www.wda.gov.sg
Course Fees Tax Relief
• For courses attended to upgrade skills and enhance employability.
• Claim actual course fees up to a maximum of $5,500 each year regardless of the number
of courses, seminars or conferences you have attended.
IRAS: 1800 356 8300
www.iras.gov.sg
10
GETTING AHEAD IN MY CAREER
ENJOYING
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Tax reliefs and grants
• Parent* Relief — Up to $9,000 per dependent who is staying with taxpayer
• Handicapped Parent* Relief — Up to $14,000 per dependent who is staying with taxpayer
• Handicapped Sibling Relief — $5,500 for each sibling/ sibling-in-law who lives in the
same household
• NSman Relief (Self, Wife and Parent) — Between $1,500 and $5,000 for NSmen and $750 for
wives and each parent
• Grandparent Caregiver Relief — Claim up to $3,000 on one parent/parent-in-law/grandparent/
grandparent-in-law helping to take care of a working mother’s children
Earned Income Relief
• Depending on age, workers receive between $1,000 and $8,000 of relief based on taxable
earned income in the previous year.
*Relief may be shared among claimants
Enjoying Additional Support
• Handicapped persons will receive between $4,000 and $12,000 of relief.
IRAS: 1800 356 8300
www.iras.gov.sg
Foreign Domestic Worker Grant
• $120 per month for households who need to hire a foreign domestic worker to care for an
elderly or persons with at least a moderate disability.
• Can be used for foreign domestic worker to attend approved and relevant caregivers’ training
courses.
Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Concession
• Reduced to $60 for families who hire a foreign domestic worker to care for a child, an elderly
person, or a person with a disability living at the same registered address. MOM: 6438 5122
www.aic.sg/FDWGrant / www.mom.gov.sg
With these tax reliefs, I can work
with peace of mind, while making
sure my family is cared for!
PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION
11
USEFUL
NUMBERS
CPF
(Central Provident
Fund Board)
1800 227 1188
mycpf.cpf.gov.sg
1800 437 7673
www.iesingapore.gov.sg
1800 356 8300
www.iras.gov.sg
6325 9220
www.moh.gov.sg
IE
(International
Enterprise
Singapore)
IRAS
(Inland Revenue
Authority of
Singapore)
MOH
(Ministry of Health)
MOM
(Foreign Domestic Worker)
MSF
(SG Enable)
6438 5122
1800 8585 885
www.mom.gov.sg
www.aic.sg/FDWGrant
www.sgenable.sg
SkillsFuture
• Ministry of Manpower
• Workforce Development Agency
• Ministry of Education
WDA
(Jobs Bank)
Workfare
6438 5122
6883 5885
6872 2220
www.skillsfuture.sg
6883 5885
www.jobsbank.gov.sg
1800 222 6622
www.workfare.gov.sg
Information compiled by People & Government Engagement Division, People’s Association.
For more information, please contact the relevant agencies as listed above.