ABOUT 24,400 employers in sectors facing significant safe management restrictions will receive payouts totalling over S$400 million from Dec 31, 2021 under the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS).

This brings the total amount of JSS support to more than S$28 billion since the scheme was introduced in February 2020, announced the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) in a joint statement on Tuesday (Dec 21).

The December payout is estimated to support the wages of more than 380,000 local employees. It includes the enhanced JSS payout for the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) and Stabilisation Phase periods.

Employers who have made mandatory Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions for their local employees for the months of August to October 2021 by the stipulated deadlines will qualify to receive the December payout.

Those who have registered for PayNow Corporate as at Dec 27, 2021 (see amendment note) or have existing Giro arrangements with Iras can expect to receive the JSS payouts from Dec 31, 2021. The rest will receive their cheques from Jan 14, 2022.

The payout for wages paid from Nov 1, 2021 will be disbursed in March 2022.

A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU

Friday, 8.30 am

Asean Business

Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies.

Sign Up

Eligible employers will be notified by post of their payout amount later this month. They can also log in to the myTax Portal to view the electronic copy of the letter.

About S$12 million in the JSS payouts for December 2021 will be withheld from 443 employers, or 1.8 per cent of all qualifying employers for the payouts.

This is pending their review and submission of supporting documents to Iras to substantiate their eligibility. It comes as part of Iras's anti-gaming efforts to ensure that payouts are fairly and correctly disbursed.

Payouts will be adjusted or denied if issues are found during Iras's review of employers' documents, said MOF and Iras.

The regulators reminded employers to contribute the correct amount of CPF for their employees, based on actual wages paid. Employers' CPF contributions are used to determine the amount of JSS payout.

Businesses or individuals who wish to report any malpractices or potential abuses of the JSS may do so via email to jssreport@iras.gov.sg or online at go.gov.sg/jssreport.

Amendment note: This article has been updated to reflect the correct PayNow Corporate registration deadline.

READ MORE: 

• Dining, social gathering rules relaxed to allow groups of 5 from Nov 22; JSS support tapered to 10%

• Some S$900m in JSS payouts to support worker wages from Sept 30

• Firms not in eligible categories may appeal for JSS; 6,000 firms have benefited from this route

• S$370m in excess JSS payouts wrongly credited to 5,400 businesses last Oct

• Authorities recover S$250m of the excess S$370m JSS payments: Chan Chun Sing