WORKFARE INCOME SUPPLEMENT SCHEME

WORKFARE INCOME SUPPLEMENT SCHEME: * * *

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(Extension to housewives): **

26.

Ms Ellen Lee asked the Acting Minister for Manpower in light of the intrinsic value in the contribution of homemakers, whether he will consider extending the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme to housewives who have no income by staying at home to look after their children and having a maid/childcare is too costly for them.

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Mr Gan Kim Yong: The objective of the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) Scheme is to encourage older low-wage Singaporeans to work by supplementing their income. Therefore, a person is eligible for WIS only if he has worked as an employee or as a self-employed person, and met the WIS eligibility and work criteria. We acknowledge that homemakers do make important contributions to the family. However, WIS is not the right scheme to help them.

Nevertheless, if the spouse of the homemaker is working, he will be eligible for WIS if he satisfies the criteria. Husbands of homemakers are further eligible for tax relief. Homemakers with children do receive other forms of help from the Government, such as centre-based subsidies if they place their children in licensed infant care and childcare centres. They may also receive foreign domestic worker levy concessions of $95 a month if they have children below the age of 12. They also benefit from government surplus sharing schemes such as the Growth Dividends, GST Credits, utilities and conservancy rebates and other measures announced from time to time.

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