SINGAPORE - From January 2016, more Singaporeans who upgrade their skills through the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) system will be eligible for cash awards.
Upon achieving full WSQ qualification, they can receive a $200 cash award for a WSQ Certificate, Higher Certificate or Advanced Certificate, and $1,000 for a WSQ Diploma, Specialist Diploma, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma.
Currently, only those who attain their first WSQ qualification will receive a one-time cash award.
In a press release on Monday (Dec 7), the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) said the changes aim to "encourage Singaporeans to continually upgrade and deepen their skills, or acquire new skills that will allow them to explore new job opportunities", in recognition of a volatile external environment.
WDA currently has 34 WSQ frameworks in over 30 sectors, catering to industry-specific skills as well as skills training in areas such as Service Excellence and Business Management.
"As skills mastery is critical to ensuring workforce competitiveness and continued economic progress, we are making changes to the Continuing Education and Training (CET) Qualification Award to further encourage Singaporeans to pursue skills deepening and lifelong learning," said Mr Ng Cher Pong, WDA chief executive.
These cash awards complement other SkillsFuture initiatives such as the SkillsFuture credit and SkillsFuture Study Awards, added Mr Ng.
Eligible Singaporeans can apply for their CET Qualification Award through www.skillsconnect.gov.sg (http://www.skillsconnect.gov.sg).
