Starting next month, more Singaporeans who upgrade their skills through the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) system will be eligible for cash awards.

Currently, a one-time cash award is given only to those who achieve their first WSQ qualification. From next month, eligible Singaporeans may receive multiple awards.

Those who attain a WSQ certificate, higher certificate or advanced certificate will get $200, while those who receive a WSQ diploma, specialist diploma, graduate certificate or graduate diploma will get $1,000.

The 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".

WDA has 34 WSQ frameworks in more than 30 sectors covering industry-specific skills as well as skills 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 Qualification Award to further encourage Singaporeans to pursue skills deepening and lifelong learning," said WDA chief executive Ng Cher Pong. The awards complement other initiatives such as the SkillsFuture Credit and SkillsFuture Study Awards, he added.

Public servant Lynda Lim, 42, who attained an advanced certificate in training and assessment last year, said she plans to take a diploma course. "We need to continually upgrade ourselves, not just for career advancement but also for personal development," she said.