However, their joy was short-lived: the Workfare Bonus Scheme was replaced by the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme last year. WIS is tied to the CPF system and requires the worker to make a CPF contribution before he is eligible for WIS. Self-employed and informal workers have to make a contribution to the Medisave Account and WIS is paid to this account.

We have disabled people working at our sheltered workshop who, rather than rely on public assistance, are prepared to work as far as they are functionally able to. On average, they receive a monthly allowance of $300 from the subcontract jobs that we help to secure for them.

Under the current guidelines, they are likely to be classified as self-employed/informal workers and therefore would need to make a contribution to their Medi-

save in order to receive WIS. Many can hardly make ends meet. It will be difficult for them to find the extra funds to contribute to Medisave.

They face the same situation as the karung guni man highlighted in the article, 'Over 100,000 low-wage workers have not signed up for Workfare' (ST, Jan 23), who was quoted as saying, 'I don't even have enough for food, why should I put it in Medisave?'

No wonder more than 100,000 low-wage workers have not signed up for WIS. Besides the lack of money for contribution to Medisave, many are probably illiterate and don't know how to go about filling up forms.

We hope the Government will view this group of workers more compassionately and reconsider the requirement of contribution to Medisave. Specific to our disabled workers, we hope the Government will consider bringing back the original Workfare Bonus Scheme.

Tommy Tng
General Manager
Society for the Physically Disabled Ability Enterprise