
Update: SWEAG and PTRG applications will no longer be accepted after 31 Dec 2022, 6pm.
Since its launch of the SWEAG and PTRG from 1 Jul 2020, many progressive firms have successfully applied for the grants to raise their internal retirement and re-employment ages above the prevailing statutory ages, and commit to a part-time re-employment policy for its eligible senior workers. As of Oct 22, at least 6,400 firms and 5,200 firms have successfully applied for the SWEAG and PTRG respectively. This is expected to benefit at least 50,000 senior workers and 42,000 senior workers respectively.
The SWEAG is intended to encourage employers to voluntarily raise their internal retirement and re-employment ages before the first round of statutory increases on 1 July 2022, and has helped to benefit senior workers from earlier cohorts who would otherwise not benefit from the statutory increases. Given that the statutory retirement and re-employment ages have since been raised to 63 and 68 respectively on 1 Jul 2022, the SWEAG will cease after 31 Dec 2022.
The PTRG has also helped to increase the availability of part-time re-employment to senior workers in participating firms. In addition to part-time re-employment, senior workers also benefit from other forms of Flexible Work Arrangements, which more firms are now keen to sustain following the experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government is reviewing the PTRG to ensure it remains relevant in supporting firms to attract senior workers to remain in the workforce.
As such, we will cease the current SWEAG and PTRG on 31 Dec 2022. Programme Partners (i.e. Singapore National Employers Federation, and NTUC e2i) will no longer be accepting applications for the SWEAG and PTRG after 6pm on 31 Dec 2022.
We hope that firms will continue to implement progressive employment practices to create an age-friendly workplace for their senior workers and encourage them to stay in the workforce. Through which, firms will also benefit from attracting and retaining senior workers and continue to harness their experience to grow their businesses. The Government will continue to review how best to support employers to implement these progressive practices.
From 1 July 2022, the Retirement Age (RA) will increase from 62 to 63, and the Re-employment Age (REA) will increase from 67 to 68.
To support progressive employers that are willing and able to implement a higher internal retirement age and re-employment age ahead of time, MOM has introduced the Senior Worker Early Adopter Grant from 1 July 2020 onwards.
For applicants received on/after 16 February 2021, the Senior Worker Early Adopter Grant (SWEAG) provides support of up to $125,000 for employers to increase their own retirement and re-employment ages ahead of legislative schedule by 3 years or more*. Employers are required to adopt the Tripartite Standard on Age-Friendly Workplace Practices (TS-AWP).
* The increase in the internal Retirement Age (RA) and Re-employment Age (REA) of a minimum of 3 years (from existing statutory RA and REA of 62 and 67 respectively) to qualify for the SWEAG would be applicable only if companies apply for the grant before 5 July 2021.
If the application of the grant is on 5 July 2021 or after, companies would have to raise their internal RA and REA to at least 66 and 71 respectively, i.e. a minimum of 3 years from the new RA and REA of 63 and 68 respectively that would take effect on 1 July 2022. This allows senior workers in these firms to benefit fully from three years of higher internal RA and REA, which is what the SWEAG is designed to promote.
Senior workers increasingly prefer to reduce their work intensity gradually as they approach retirement. They are prepared to remain in the workforce if they could undertake part-time work arrangements during the re-employment phase.
As employers need time to restructure their work structures and processes to accommodate more part-time employees, the Part-time Re-employment Grant has been introduced from 1 July 2020 onwards to support employers that commit to providing part-time re-employment opportunities to senior workers upon their request.
The Part-time Re-employment Grant provides funding support of up to $125,000 to employers that commit to a part-time re-employment policy for its eligible senior workers. For applicants received on/after 16 February 2021, employers are required to adopt the Tripartite Standard on Age-Friendly Workplace Practices (TS-AWP).
All companies/employers can apply for SWEAG and/or PTRG if they are legally registered or incorporated in Singapore. This includes societies and non-profit organisations such as charities and voluntary welfare organisations. Governmental agencies, statutory boards and other organs-of-state are not eligible. Employer must have at least one senior worker aged 60 and above (based on birth year), either Singapore citizen or permanent resident employed on a permanent basis or on employment contract (s) that are at least 12 months in duration.
Step-by-step instruction:
1. Visit the TAFEP website: https://www.tal.sg/tafep/getting-started/progressive/adopt-tripartite-standards
2. Tick “Age-Friendly Workplace Practices” and complete the rest of the form.
3. Click “Submit”
4. After successful adoption, TAFEP will send an email to company in 3 working days. Company may attach that email in your claim submission.
If your company had already adopted:
5. If your company has already adopted the Tripartite Standards, you may do a search in the list of organizations in the link below and submit a screenshot.
https://www.tal.sg/tafep/getting-started/progressive/tripartite-standards-adopters
Application
Application for SWEAG & PTRG has closed.
If your application is approved by e2i, you will receive a Letter of Offer.
You are required to return the signed Letter of Acceptance within 1 month.
Implementation
Companies are required to take the following actions before filing a claim:
- Complete claim form that provides information on all senior workers.
- Furnish updated HR policy on:
- Internal/employer-level Retirement and Re-Employment ages showing the respective increases from current policy
- Communicate the new policy to all employees with proof of communication
- Issue addendums (specific clauses will be provided) to employment contracts documenting the policy change to all employees
- For Senior Workers: Companies to submit individually addressed and signed addendums (i.e. those aged 60 and above).
- For non-Senior Workers: Companies to submit documentary proof that the standardized addendum (e.g. email with attachment or signed acknowledgment) has been sent to the rest of the employees
- Prepare employment contracts for all senior workers benefitted under this grant
- Prepare NRICs of senior workers for all replacement senior workers, if any
- CPF Form 90:
a. For applications submitted before 1 July 2022: Prepare CPF Form 90 for all replacement senior workers
b. For applications submitted from 1 July 2022: Prepare CPF Form 90 for all senior workers - Adopt the Tripartite Standard on Age-Friendly Workplace Practices (TS-AWP)
- How to Adopt Tripartite Standard – Age Friendly Workplace Practices (TS-AWP)?
- Visit the TAFEP website: https://www.tal.sg/tafep/getting-started/progressive/adopt-tripartite-standards
- Tick “Age-Friendly Workplace Practices” and complete the rest of the form.
- Click “Submit”
- After successful adoption, TAFEP will send an email to company in 3 working days. Company may attach that email in your claim submission.
If your company had already adopted: - If your company has already adopted the Tripartite Standards, you may do a search in the list of organizations in the link below and submit a screenshot.
https://www.tal.sg/tafep/getting-started/progressive/tripartite-standards-adopters
- How to Adopt Tripartite Standard – Age Friendly Workplace Practices (TS-AWP)?
Claims
To submit for claims, submit the following documents to [email protected].
Please refer to the list of documents here.
We will process your claims on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Once your claims is approved, you will receive an email notification.
If you want to submit claims, click here.
Find out how e2i can help your company attain higher productivity at:
https://www.e2i.com.sg/businesses/