Over 2 million employees to benefit from over $3b JSS payouts

Payouts for about 5,500 employers in March 2021 will be delayed.

Over 2 million employee wages will be supported from over $3b payouts to over 150,000 employers from the Jobs Support Scheme from 30 March 2021.

Employers who have made mandatory Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions for their local employees for the months of September to December 2020 by the stipulated deadlines will qualify to receive the payout. With this payout, over $24.5b of JSS support would have been disbursed since the introduction of the scheme at the Unity Budget in February 2020, said the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

For the upcoming payout in March, employers will receive up to 50% support for the first $4,600 of gross monthly wages paid in September, October, November, and December 2020.

Employers of the hardest hit sectors—aviation, aerospace, and tourism—will receive 50% support, whilst those in food services, retail, arts and entertainment, land transport, and marine and offshore will receive 30% support.

Employers in the built environment sector will receive 50% support for wages paid in September and October 2020, and 30% for November and December 2020 wages. Employers in all other sectors will receive 10% support.

“As the economy re-opens in phases after the Circuit Breaker, firms that are not allowed to resume on-site operations will continue to receive 50% support until they are allowed to do so, or until March 2021, whichever is earlier,” IRAS said.

Meanwhile, the March 2021 payouts for about 5,500 employers will be delayed to end-April 2021, pending a reconciliation by the Ministry of Trade and Industry on firms’ re-opening dates used in the computation of JSS payouts.

All affected employers will be notified via letters and emails. They can also check via go.gov.sg/JSSreopeningdate. More information will be provided following the completion of the reconciliation.