What are the support schemes conducted by Bca Singapore?
The consequences of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are being felt around the world. Many built environment firms faces a lot of issue due to cope with loss of income and outdated of project to be done. By giving a support schemes by Bca Singapore, many types of firms will have less burden due to covid 19 outbreaks. Especially with company who hiring foreign worker from many country. They need to survive in order to make their workers and company in good situation to handle this outbreaks. Company need to transfer foreign workers across sectors to manage manpower needs. Bca Singapore conducted support measure that will help businesses preserve capacity and capability, and protect jobs in Singapore.
Reduces Levies for Built Environment Firms
(MOM) Foreign Worker Levy Rebate
1. $750 from Apr to Jun 2020 and $375 for July 2020 for each Work Permit or S Pass holder
2. $90 from Aug 2020 to Dec 2021 for each Work Permit holder
(MOM) Levy Payment Timeline extension of 3 months for SMEs
- With immediate effect, MOM will provide SMEs with an additional three months to make the levy payment. In total, SMEs will have up to 5 months to pay for the foreign worker levy from the month it is incurred before revocation action kicks in. This temporary relief measure will apply to levies incurred in the year 2020. Around 60,000 firms stand to benefit from this measure.
- Employers who use the extended payment timeline offered by MOM are encouraged to retain existing workers and should not be employing new foreign workers. MOM will hence allow renewals but not new applications of work passes from these firms.
- The late payment penalty of 2% monthly will still apply for levies which are deferred. Firms are hence encouraged to exercise financial prudence and plan their cash flow to pay levies on time as far as possible
(MOM) Waiver of foreign worker levies
100% from Apr to Jun 2020 and 50% in Jul 2020
Bca Singapore Supports Business Transformation
(BCA) Productivity Innovation Project (PIP) scheme
In line with the measures announced at Supplementary Budget 2020, the PIP scheme will be enhanced to encourage enterprises to continue their productivity upgrading and digitalisation efforts. The maximum funding support level will be raised to up to 80% from 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2020.
The scheme aims to:
- Defray the costs required to re-engineer processes or adopt labour-efficient construction technologies.
- Encourage construction-related companies to embark on solution development projects that build up their capabilities as well as improve site productivity and reduce site workers.
Area | Productivity innovation | Level of co-funding support |
Technologies and Innovations | 30-40% productivity improvement at trade level | Up to 70%# of the qualifying cost, capped at $1 million per application |
> 40% productivity improvement at trade level | Up to 70%# of the qualifying cost, capped at $10 million per application | |
Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) Manufacturing Facilities | Integrated Construction and Prefabrication Hubs (ICPH) | Up to 70%# of the qualifying cost, capped at $10 million per application |
Other manufacturing facilities | Up to 70%# of the qualifying cost, capped at $3 million per application | |
Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) | IDD 3 stage digitalisation | Up 70%# of the qualifying cost, capped at $600,000 per application |
IDD 4 stage digitalisation | Up to 70%# of the qualifying cost, capped at $700,000 per application | |
Local customisation of IDD platforms and solutions | Up to 70%# of the qualifying cost, capped at $500,000 per application |
(ESG) Enterprise Development Grant
The Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) helps Singapore companies grow and transform. This grant supports projects that help you upgrade your business, innovate or venture overseas, under three pillars:
- Core Capabilities
Projects under Core Capabilities help businesses prepare for growth and transformation by strengthening their business foundations. These should go beyond basic functions such as sales and accounting.
- Innovation and Productivity
Projects under Innovation and Productivity support companies that explore new areas of growth, or look for ways to enhance efficiency. These could include reviewing and redesigning workflow and processes. Companies could also tap into automation and technologies to make routine tasks more efficient.
- Market Access
Projects under Market Access support Singapore companies that are willing and ready to venture overseas. You may tap into the EDG to help defray some of the costs of expanding into overseas markets.
(ESG) Productivity Solutions Grant
PSG will be enhanced to encourage enterprises to continue their digitalisation and productivity upgrading efforts. The maximum funding support level will be raised to 80% from 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2020. The scope of generic solutions will also be expanded to help enterprises implement COVID-19 business continuity measures:
- Online collaboration tools
- Virtual meeting and telephony tools
- Queue management systems
- Temperature screening solutions
Bca Singapore for Construction and Supply Contracts
– (BCA Singapore) Advance payment for contractors in public sector construction projects during the “Circuit Breaker” and “Extended Circuit Breaker” period until Safe Restart
– (BCA Singapore) Co-share prolongation costs of constructions in public construction projects
– (BCA Singapore) Waivers allowing builders to do partial on-site installation of finishing works for Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) and Prefabricated Bathrooms
– (MINLAW) COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act to provide temporary relief for inability to perform contractual obligations for construction or supply contracts due to COVID-19
– (URA) Extension of 6 months for commencement, completion and sale of residential developments in relation to remission of ABSD for housing developers
– (URA) Extension of Project Completion Period (PCP) by 6 months for development projects
SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package
(SSG-WSG) Enhanced Hiring Incentive
For employers that hire local workers who completed eligible re-skilling and training schemes
(SSG-WSG) SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package will support close to 100,000 new jobs, traineeships and training opportunities
The SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package will support close to 100,000 jobseekers. The package aims to expand job, traineeship, and skills training opportunities to support Singaporeans affected by the economic impact of COVID-19. These will help Singaporeans to acquire job-related skills and capabilities, and access expanded employment opportunities.
Under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Ministry of Education (MOE), and Public Service Division (PSD) will roll out the following key initiatives:
- Scale up job opportunities under SGUnited Jobs Initiative and Place-and-Train conversion programmes;
- Expand traineeships through SGUnited Traineeships Programme for recent and new graduates, and SGUnited Mid-Career Traineeships for mid-career unemployed individuals;
- Strengthen training support through SGUnited Skills programme; and
- Enhance the Hiring Incentive under the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Support Package
Cashflow and Business Sustainability
(BCA Singapore) Co-funding of SMOs from Sep 2020 to Feb 2021
Contractors are required to deploy SMO(s) to ensure that safe management measures are implemented at construction worksites. Even though the SMO position can be taken up by an existing employee rather than as a new hire, Government will set aside $48 million to co-fund 50% of salaries of SMOs who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents for six months from September 2020 to February 2021, provided that the firms adhere to COVID-Safe Worksite practices.
(BCA Singapore) Construction Restart Booster
A $525.8 million construction restart booster will be made available to help construction firms, which have to incur additional compliance costs unique to the sector in order to resume works safely. This funding will co-share contractors’ costs in procuring additional material/equipment to comply with COVID-Safe Worksite requirements (e.g. additional portable toilets, PPEs, masks, barricades). The funding will be given to construction projects regardless of whether they have restarted or are pending restart, as these compliance costs would eventually be incurred.
(BCA Singapore) Progress Payment Claims in Public Sector Construction Projects
Government Procuring Entities (GPEs) will be accepting fortnightly payment claims in lieu of monthly payment claims
(CPF) Defer higher CPF contribution rates for senior workers
(ESG) Enterprise Financing Scheme – SME Working Capital Loan
Maximum loan quantum raised to $1 million, government risk share increased to 90%
(ESG) Temporary Bridging Loan Programme
Maximum loan quantum raised to $5 million, government risk share increased to 90%
(IRAS) Corporate Income Tax Rebate of 25% to all firms
(IRAS) Jobs Support Scheme
75% wage support from Apr to Aug 2020, 25% wage support for five months
(IRAS) Wage Credit Scheme
Qualifying gross wage ceiling raised to $5000, government co-funding ratios for wage increases in 2019 and 2020 raised to 20% and 15% respectively
(MAS) Deferment of loan payments for SMEs, no enforcement of security located in Singapore
(MAS) Flexible premium instalment plans for cash-constrained insurance policyholders
(MOH) Costs of swab testing
As part of BCA Singapore COVID-Safe Workforce criteria, employers should ensure that their employees undergo periodic swab tests to safeguard the health and safety of their employees as required. This includes all construction work permit holders and S Pass holders (except for those working in company office premises) and Singapore Citizens/ Permanent Residents/ Employment Pass holders working on construction sites.
The Government had earlier announced that it would pay for the periodic swab test for construction work permit holders and S-pass holders, up to August 2020. The Government will now continue to bear the costs of COVID-19 testing for the construction sector until 31 March 2021, to help ensure a safe restart of the construction sector.
(MOH) Quarantine Order Allowance (QOA) Scheme
The Quarantine Order The Quarantine Order Allowance (QOA) Scheme is set up to mitigate financial impact for those who have been served Quarantine Orders under the Infectious Diseases Act.
Under the QOA scheme, claims of $100 per day can be made by two groups:
(i) Self-employed
(ii) Employers, who have employees issued with Quarantine Orders
(MOM) Man-Year Entitlement (MYE) Refund
Unutilised MYE due to work disruptions from COVID-19 will be refunded for a period of six months starting from 1 Apr 2020
Cash grants to help SMEs with rental costs
More rental waivers for commercial and other non-residential tenants of government properties
