SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Manpower has unveiled the eligibility criteria for laid-off workers hoping to receive financial support from the government under a new scheme in April 2025.

The S$200 million programme SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support will provide as much as $6,000 in economic relief to middle-income and lower-income workers forced out of their jobs involuntarily.

The scheme seeks to “give greater assurance to displaced workers so that they will not face employment setbacks alone,” the MoM said.

‘An ethos of self-reliance’

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong first announced the scheme on 18 August, calling on the MoM to further define the eligibility criteria – among them, the need for beneficiaries to actively look for a job while on the programme.

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said the support scheme is not meant to encourage prolonged unemployment. Rather, it is designed to support the out-of-work who are making an effort to invest in their skills and career growth and who are eager to find their next employment.

Beneficiaries are thus required to “undertake activities that will make it more likely for them to land a job,” such as undergoing training, career coaching and job matching.

“We want to help jobseekers maintain an ethos of self-reliance, and we want to be able to nudge and reward their efforts to get back on their feet,” the minister said.

However, while the unemployment support is a “well-intentioned step towards helping displaced workers,” it might only be “scratching the surface” of an even deeper issue, said Ives Tay, a leading consultant on SkillsFuture.

“Focusing solely on individual upskilling risks ignoring deeper job market challenges like wage stagnation and job security. We need a holistic approach that tackles these systemic issues, not just a quick fix,” Tay said.

“Let’s be honest – $6,000 and mandatory training won’t solve everything. We need more comprehensive, long-term solutions that address the real barriers.”

Who is eligible for SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support?

The Jobseeker Support programme is expected to benefit some 60,000 workers in Singapore, or over 60% of individuals who have been involuntarily forced out of work.

Unemployed individuals aged 21 and above who have been jobless for at least a month can seek financial relief. This category includes workers who were dismissed or retrenched, or whose employers went out of business.

However, applicants must not have earned more than $5,000 a month on average in the past 12 months, must not own property whose annual value exceeds $25,000, and must have worked for at least six months in the 12 months prior to their application.

The scheme will support Singaporean citizens in its first year, before extending coverage to permanent residents by 2026.

Financial relief will be paid out over six months maximum or until the recipient is able to secure a new job. The first payout amounts to $1,500, tapering off to $1,250, $1,000, and $750 in the following months.

Laid-off workers who receive support will not be eligible for the scheme for another three years. However, there is no limit to the number of times a person can apply for the scheme across their lifetime.

In a joint statement, the MoM and Workplace Singapore – which will implement the programme – reminded the public that the Jobseeker Support scheme is not designed to augment the income of households undergoing economic hardship.

“The payout quantum [of Jobseeker Support] is not sized to meet the needs of households facing financial distress as a result of a household member becoming involuntarily unemployed, as JS is not a social assistance scheme. For these households, they can receive support from other social assistance schemes,” the government agencies said.