Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS)

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What is Enhanced Training Support for SMEs

The Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS funding) offers support for SMEs to send their employees for training. Through the Skills Development Fund (SDF), training grants are available for companies sponsoring employees who are either a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident.

Criteria for Enhanced Training Support for SMEs

For courses commencing on or after 1 Jan 2023

SMEs that meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

Registered or incorporated in Singapore.
Employment size of not more than 200 or with annual sales turnover of not more than $100 million.

SME-sponsored Trainees:

Must be Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents.
Courses have to be fully paid for by the employer.
Trainee is not a full-time national serviceman.
You may view the full terms for training providers Here.

Further Info: This scheme is intended for all organisations, including non-business entities not registered with ACRA e.g. VWOs, societies, etc. Only Ministries, statutory boards, and other government agencies are not eligible under Enhanced Training Support for SMEs Scheme. Sole proprietorships which meet all of the above criteria are also eligible.

Absentee Payroll funding

From 1 January 2022, Absentee Payroll (AP) funding will be fixed at $4.50 per hour and there will be a $100,000 cap on the maximum Absentee Payroll funding each company can claim for each year.

Absentee Payroll funding is one of the 3 funding schemes under the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) Scheme. Claims under the WSS AP funding will not count towards the $100,000 cap per company. For more details, click Absentee Payroll (AP) Funding.

Please also take note of SkillsFuture Funding Adjustment beginning Jan 2022.

Source: https://www.ssg-wsg.gov.sg/news-and-announcements/adjustments-to-skills-training-schemes-to-sharpen-focus-on-manpower-development-outcomes.html

Enhanced Training Support for SME (On or after 1 Jan 2022)

Type of Course	Funding Support
CET Centre courses and CET courses offered by the Autonomous Universities, Polytechnics, ITE and the National Institute of early Childhood development (NIEC)¹	Up to 90% of course fees
Certifiable courses (Conducted by External Training Providers)	Up to 70% of course fees
In-house certifiable training	Course fees subsidised at $15 per hours

SkillsFuture Funding for Employers

¹These include the following courses:

SSG-supported short courses offered by the Autonomous Universities;
Part-time Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Specialist Diploma, part-time Industry Skills Certificates (ISC), part-time NITEC, part-time Higher NITEC, and SSG-supported short courses offered by the Polytechnics and ITE.

How to Check your Company’s SME Status on EPJS Portal

1. Click “Digital Services” on https://www.enterprisejobskills.gov.sg/

2. Click SME declaration

3. Click “login” for Enterprise. Will require Singpass to login

4. Upon logging into EPJS Portal, Click on “SME Status” to check on SME status approval

If your company SME status is approved, you are eligible for ETSS.

Questions on employer training grant for company?

If you have any enquiries on SME training grant, which courses are suitable for you and how you can apply, feel free to enquire.

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