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Support Measures for Built Environment Sector Firms

The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has caused disruptions for many businesses in Singapore. To help Built Environment firms and their employees tide over this period, the Government has introduced various support measures to aid in (i) manpower levies (ii) business development (iii) construction and supply contracts (iv) jobs and skills and (v) cash flow and business sustainability. All these measures will help businesses preserve capacity and capability, and protect jobs.

Please see the infographic and table below for more details.

(click to view the full image)
Support measures for BE firms infographic

Reduced Levies

- (MOM) Foreign Worker Levy Rebate
$750 from Apr to Jun 2020 and $375 from Jul to Sep 2020 for each Work Permit or S Pass Holder 
[Updated 14 May 2021] $90 from Oct 2020 to Apr 2021 and $250 from May to Dec 2021 for each Work Permit Holder
- (MOM) Levy Payment Timeline extension of 3 months for SMEs

- (MOM)Waiver of Foreign Worker Levy
100% from Apr to Sep 2020, 75% for Oct 2020, 50% for Nov 2020, and 25% for Dec 2020^ 
^Month indicated is the month that the levy is due in

Business Transformation

- (BCA) Productivity Innovation Project (PIP) scheme
Maximum support level raised to 80%

- (BCA-IMDA) Advanced Digital Solutions (ADS) scheme
Support up to 80% of the cost of the integrated digital solutions to help firms ensure worksite safety, up to a cap of $20,000 per project

- (ESG) Enterprise Development Grant
Maximum support level raised to 90% 

- (ESG) Productivity Solutions Grant
Maximum support level raised to 80%
Construction and Supply Contracts

- Circular on The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment No.3) Bill 2021 - Part 10A (Reliefs for Construction Contracts Affected by Increase in Foreign Manpower Salary Costs) [Issued on 12 May 2021] / 华文版 

- (BCA) Advance payment for contractors in public sector construction projects during the “Circuit Breaker” and “Extended Circuit Breaker” period until Safe Restart

- (BCA) Co-share prolongation costs of constructions in public construction projects       
Download template to submit claims for prolongation costs here.

- (BCA) Waivers allowing builders to do partial on-site installation of finishing works for Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) and Prefabricated Bathrooms

- (BCA) COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act – Part 8A (Extension of Time for Construction Contracts) and Part 8B (Temporary Measures for Cost-Sharing in Construction Contracts)
[Updated 19 Apr 2021] Circular on Commencement of COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 - Part 8A and 8B
BCA-SISV-SCAL-SIA Restart Webinar - COTMA Revision & Contracts Management Best Practices
- Click here for more info

-  (MINLAW) COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act to provide temporary relief for inability to perform contractual obligations for construction or supply contracts (see FAQs) due to COVID-19
[Updated 19 Apr 2021] Joint MinLaw-BCA Info Note on Commencement of the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 - Provisions Relating to Temporary Reliefs

- (URA) Extension of 6 months for commencement, completion and sale of residential developments in relation to remission of ABSD for housing developers

- (URA) Extension of Project Completion Period (PCP) by 6 months for development projects

SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package

- (SSG-WSG) Enhanced Hiring Incentive
For employers that hire local workers who completed eligible re-skilling and training schemes

- (SSG-WSG) SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package will support close to 100,000 new jobs, traineeships and training opportunities
Cashflow and Business Sustainability

- (BCA) Co-funding of SMOs from Sep 2020 to Feb 2021 [Updated 8 Jul 2021]

- (BCA) Construction Restart Booster
To help construction firms pay for additional compliance costs

- (BCA) Progress Payment Claims in Public Sector Construction Projects
Government Procuring Entities (GPEs) will be accepting fortnightly payment claims in lieu of monthly payment claims

- (CPF) Defer higher CPF contribution rates for senior workers

- (ESG) Enterprise Financing Scheme - SME Working Capital Loan
Maximum loan quantum raised to $1 million, government risk share increased to 90%

- (ESG) Temporary Bridging Loan Programme
Maximum loan quantum raised to $5 million, government risk share increased to 90%

- (IRAS) Corporate Income Tax Rebate of 25% to all firms

- (IRAS) Jobs Support Scheme
75% wage support from Apr to Aug 2020, 50% wage support from Sep to Oct 2020, 30% wage support from Nov 2020 to Mar 2021, 10% wage support from Apr to Jun 2021

- (IRAS) Wage Credit Scheme
Qualifying gross wage ceiling raised to $5000, government co-funding ratios for wage increases in 2019 and 2020 raised to 20% and 15% respectively

- (MAS) Deferment of loan payments for SMEs, no enforcement of security located in Singapore

- (MAS) Flexible premium instalment plans for cash-constrained insurance policyholders

- (MOH) Costs of swab testing
Funded by the government for the construction sector till 30 Sep 2021

- (MOH) Quarantine Order Allowance (QOA) Scheme
$100 daily allowance for employers with employees affected by Quarantine Orders

- Cash grants to help SMEs with rental costs

- More rental waivers for commercial and other non-residential tenants of government properties

Popular e-Services

CWRS

The Construction Workforce Registration System (CWRS) is an online portal for CoreTrade and Multi-skilling registration and the renewal of Direct R1 eligibility.

Online Registration for Verification System

ORV allows you to register the workers for Identity Verification and check your registration status online.

Lifts and Escalators Application (LEAP) Portal

Lift and escalator owners, contractors and Specialist Professional Engineers (SPEs) can apply for and view applications for Permit to Operate (PTO) here.