ingapore plans to combine three existing grants for employers hiring persons with disabilities into a single scheme, simplifying access to funding and expanding support for inclusive employment.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) plans to introduce the new Enabling Employment Grant in the first half of 2027. It will bring together the Open Door Programme Job Redesign Grant, the Training Grant for Employers and the Employer Development Grant.
The proposal forms part of recommendations from the Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities, released on 4 October 2026.
Employers had reported difficulties identifying the appropriate grants and managing separate applications. Under the proposed arrangement, businesses will have greater flexibility to use funding for different employment-related needs, with simpler application and claims processes.
The grant is also expected to support customised in-house training, additional courses for employers and co-workers, and more funding for in-house job coaches.
Wage Support for Employers to Be Enhanced
Singapore will also enhance the Enabling Employment Credit in 2027 to encourage businesses to hire persons with disabilities.
Under the existing scheme, eligible employers can receive a wage offset of up to 20% of an employee’s monthly wages, capped at S$400 per month. Employers hiring eligible workers who have been out of work for at least six months can receive an additional temporary offset for the first nine months of employment.
The government plans to increase the amount and duration of this temporary support and raise the qualifying income ceiling. Further details are expected later in 2026.
New Support for Job Redesign and Retention
SG Enable, Singapore’s disability agency, plans to establish an Employment Support Office that will work with trade associations and chambers of commerce to help employers identify suitable roles and redesign jobs where needed.
The office is expected to become fully operational in the second half of 2027. Its work will include exploring opportunities created by workplace technologies and helping employers make roles more accessible.
From 2028, job support for workers with higher support needs in open employment is also expected to extend beyond the current one-year period. Assistance will remain available when workplace challenges arise later in employment.
These measures aim to help employers not only recruit persons with disabilities, but also support their longer-term participation and retention in the workforce.
Additional Funding for Supported Enterprises
MSF and SG Enable also plan to introduce a Supported-Enterprise Enabling Grant later in 2026.
The scheme will support enterprises that employ a significant proportion of persons with disabilities who have moderate support needs. Funding is expected to cover training officers and allied professionals, including therapists and psychologists.
The initiative will also provide business development support through the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (raiSE). The time-limited funding is intended to help participating enterprises build their capacity to sustain these support services over time.
Singapore Targets 40% Disability Employment by 2030
Singapore’s employment rate for resident persons with disabilities aged 15 to 64 reached 34.7% in 2024–2025, up from 28.2% in 2018–2019, according to figures cited in the taskforce report.
The government aims to raise the rate to 40% by 2030, with employment support expected to become increasingly important as more graduates from Special Education schools enter the workforce.
The planned grant consolidation, enhanced wage support and expanded job services form part of the wider effort to improve employment access and retention for persons with disabilities.
For HR teams and employers in Singapore, the changes signal a continued policy focus on inclusive hiring, accessible job design and sustained workplace support. Employers considering disability-inclusive recruitment should monitor official announcements for the eligibility criteria and implementation details of the new schemes.
Sources: Ministry of Social and Family Development and SG Enable’s Open Door Programme.
