Workers can report abuse of Jobs Support Scheme

员工可举报滥用雇佣补贴行为

谨答复《联合早报·交流站》于8月21日刊登的吴清弟读者投函《对雇佣补贴的建议》：

我们感谢吴先生的投函。雇佣补贴计划（Jobs Support Scheme，简称JSS）给予雇主的款项，是作为一种现金流和财务援助，以帮助他们留住本地雇员。若没有这种支援，一些雇主可能不得不关门，雇员将因此而失去工作。在这场危机中，企业和员工的命运密不可分。如果企业得以维持运营，就可以保住工作。

同时，为了鼓励雇主留住员工和维持工资，JSS的设计确保付给雇主的补贴，是按所支付工资的一定百分比来计算。这意味着雇主必须继续出工资给雇员，才能继续领取雇佣补贴。雇主在此期间削减员工工资、要求员工请无薪假，或者裁退员工，都将获得相应较低的雇佣补贴。

如果须要采取节约成本措施，雇主受促以负责任的态度来实行这些措施，并为员工提供合理的支持。在这困难时期，雇员和雇主都要作出一些牺牲，以尽可能地挽救工作，这方面可参考《薪资和休假安排指导原则》和《劳资政冗员管理和负责任裁员指导原则》。采取节约成本措施的雇主，还应允许雇员从事额外的临时工作以增加收入。政府方面提供雇佣补贴以支持就业和工人，以及提供其他措施，包括房地产税回扣、租金减免、融资计划等，以帮助企业承担其他成本和保持现金流。我们认为，在危机时期，各方都将遭受一些痛楚。

政府知道一些雇主为了获得更多雇佣补贴而滥用JSS。我们严正看待任何滥用这项计划的企图。雇主必须确保为雇员缴纳的强制性公积金是正确的，这以实际支付的工资来计算。雇员若想向国内税务局检举任何不当行为，或滥用JSS的潜在行径，可通过https://go.gov.sg/jssreport作出举报。任何企图滥用JSS的行径，都会受到严厉的处罚，违者将面临最高10年监禁和罚款。

除了JSS，因为冠病疫情冲击经济而收入大幅减少的本地员工，也可以申请冠病疫情薪金补贴（COVID-19 Support Grant，简称CSG）。CSG在此困难时期为国人提供额外的救济和援助，此计划已延长至2020年12月。

财政部
企业通讯司司长
林允 谦

Workers can report abuse of Jobs Support Scheme

We thank Mr Wu Qingdi for his letter (“对雇佣补贴的建议”, 21 Aug).

The Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) payouts are provided to employers as a form of cashflow and financial assistance, to help them retain their local employees. Without this support, some employers may have to shut down, and employees would lose their jobs. In this crisis, the fates of businesses and workers are inextricably linked. If businesses stay afloat, jobs can be preserved.

At the same time, to encourage employers to retain workers and maintain wages, the JSS is designed such that the payouts are based on a percentage of wages paid. This means that employers are required to continue to pay their employees in order to continue to receive the JSS payouts. Employers who cut their employees’ wages, put them on no-pay-leave during this period, or retrench workers, will receive correspondingly lower JSS payouts.

If cost-saving measures are necessary, employers are reminded to implement these responsibly and fairly with reasonable support to employees. In this difficult time, both employees and employers have to make some sacrifices to save jobs wherever possible, taking reference from the Advisory on Salary and Leave Arrangements and the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment. Employers undertaking cost-saving measures should also allow their employees to seek additional temporary employment to boost their incomes. On its part, the Government provides the JSS payouts to support jobs and workers, and other measures (including property tax rebates, rental relief, financing schemes) to help businesses with other costs and cashflow.  We recognise that in times of crisis, all parties are suffering some pain.

The Government is aware of possible abuses by employers in order to obtain higher JSS payouts. We take a serious view on any attempt to abuse the scheme. Employers must ensure that mandatory CPF contributions made for their employees are correct, based on actual wages paid. Employees who would like to report to IRAS any malpractices or potential abuses of the JSS may do so at https://go.gov.sg/jssreport. The penalties for any attempt to abuse the JSS are severe, and offenders may face up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine.

In addition to the JSS, local employees, who have experienced significant income loss as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19, can apply for the COVID-19 Support Grant (CSG). The CSG has been extended to December 2020, and provides additional relief and assistance to Singaporeans during this difficult time.  

Lim Yuin Chien
Director (Corporate Communications)
Ministry of Finance