This document summarizes key budget measures from the Singapore Budget & COS 2019 Special Edition that relate to students, businesses, workers, seniors, families, the economy, national security, and the Malay/Muslim community. It outlines policies and initiatives in areas such as education, healthcare, retirement support, business grants, workforce training, volunteerism, and community programs. The implications for the Malay/Muslim community are also discussed, emphasizing how various groups can benefit from and engage with the different budget measures.

1. Budget & COS 2019
Special Edition

2. We will build a Strong, United Singapore by:
Keeping
Singapore
Safe and
Secure
Building a
Vibrant and
Innovative
Economy
Nurturing a
Caring and
Inclusive
Society
Making
Singapore
Our Global
City and
Home for All
Planning for
a Fiscally
Sustainable
Future
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3. Budget and COS 2019 Outline
1. For Students and Youths
2. For Businesses
3. For Workers
4. For Seniors
5. For Families
6. For the Economy
7. For National Security
8. For a Caring Society
9. For the Malay/Muslim Community
10. Implications on the Malay/Muslim Community
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4. Key Budget and COS 2019
Measures

5. • Pri 2 pupils this year will be the first cohort not to
be streamed into Normal or Express in 2024 after
their PSLE
• Under the Full Subject-Based Banding system,
they will take a combination of G1, G2 or G3
subjects
• After-school programmes scaled up to 60 more
schools, bringing total number to 120
• MOE to set up Uplift Programme Office to
better assist disadvantaged students
• A panel will engage youth and the wider society
to develop an SGYouth Action Plan
For Students and Youths (MOE & MCCY)
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6. • Provide comprehensive financing support to
enterprises under the Enterprise Financing
Scheme
• Expand SMEs Go Digital to support more SMEs
to adopt and benefit from digital solutions
• Establish two Centres of Innovation in
Aquaculture and Energy
• Extend enhanced funding support under
Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) and
Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)
For Businesses (MTI)
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7. We will help our workers to earn more and save more, so they are better
prepared for retirement
For Lower-wage Workers
• Enhance Workfare Income Supplement
Scheme (WIS) from Jan 2020:
Higher maximum
annual payouts of
up to $4,000
Raise qualifying
monthly income
cap to $2,300
Supplement wages and
CPF savings of close to
440,000 lower-wage
Singaporean workers
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For Workers (MOM)

8. Note: The payouts for self-employed persons are two-thirds of the amounts received by employees.
We will help our workers earn more, save more and be better prepared for
retirement
Maximum Annual Payout under Enhanced WIS
Current New
45 – 54
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35 – 44
Age
55 – 59
≥ 60
$1,500
$2,200
$2,900
$3,600
For Workers (MOM)
$1,700
$2,500
$3,300
$4,000

9. Global Ready Talent
Programme
• Provide overseas
internships and job
postings for young
Singaporeans in local
enterprises
Professional Conversion
Programmes
• Extend the Programmes to
new growth areas so
workers can seize new
opportunities
Career Support
Programme
• Extend the Programme
by two years to help
employers hire mature
retrenched workers
Productivity Solutions
Grant
• The Grant (SkillsFuture
Training Subsidy), worth
up to $10,000 , can be
used to cover 70% of
training expenses
Older Workers
• Retirement age set to be
raised beyond 62
• Re-employment age set to
be raised beyond 67
• Extend Special Employment
Credit (SEC) until end-2020
Job Redesign Guide
• The new Guide will help
employers hire workers
with special needs
For Workers (MOM & MTI)
For Young Students, Professionals and Older Workers
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10. For Workers (MOM)
Worker Protections
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• Self-employed to get help topping up their
Medisave accounts
• Stiffer salary rules for firms to hire foreign
workers, with rise in salary threshold to $1,300
for locals to count towards quota
• Proper rest areas for cleaners, low-wage workers
being considered

11. • Benefit close to 500,000 Singaporeans
o Born in the 1950s, and obtained citizenship by 1996; or
o Born in or before 1949, and obtained citizenship by 1996 and do not receive PGP
• More details in the Merdeka Generation Welcome Folder from June 2019
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For Seniors (MOH)
The Merdeka Generation Package will:

12. The Merdeka Generation Package comprises:
1 PAssion Silver Card
• One-off $100 top-up
2 MediSave Top-Ups
• $200 per year
• From 2019 to 2023
3 Additional Outpatient Care Subsidies
• Special subsidies at CHAS GP and dental clinics (more than CHAS Blue)
• Additional 25% off subsidised bills at polyclinics and public Specialist
Outpatient Clinics
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For Seniors (MOH)

13. 4 Additional MediShield Life Premium Subsidies
Age Next Birthday
(at policy renewal)
Additional Subsidy for
the Merdeka Generation Total Subsidy*
60 to 75
76 and above
5% off annual
premiums
($31.50 to $48.75)
$31.50 to $390
10% off annual
premiums
($113 to $153)
$113 to $918
Note: Dollar amounts shown are based on 2019 standard MediShield Life premiums. The total subsidy includes the
existing premium subsidies that Merdeka Generation seniors in lower-to-middle-income households are also receiving,
but excludes transitional subsidies.
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For Seniors (MOH)
The Merdeka Generation Package comprises:

14. 5 Additional CareShield Life Participation Incentive
• Of $1,500 when they join CareShield Life (from 2021)
• Total participation incentive of $4,000 each
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For Seniors (MOH)
The Merdeka Generation Package comprises:

15. • Enhanced childcare subsidies for non-working
mums finding a job, or with at least two children
and caring full-time for a young child
• Higher cash assistance for families on ComCare
Long-Term Assistance from July 1
• Community Link hubs and Localised
Community Network to better help families with
complex challenges and at-risk youth
• More help for low-income families to own
homes
• Two workgroups to help those with special needs
live independently, and improve their chances of
getting a job
For Families (MSF & MND)
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16. • Free HPV vaccination for all Sec 1 girls to protect
them against cervical cancer
• Subsidised screening for women with history of
gestational diabetes
• MediShield Life extended to cover 24 pregnancy
and delivery-related complications
• Proposed ban on partially hydrogenated oils, a
key source of artificial trans fat
For Families (MOH)
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17. Income Support
• Up to $300 in GSTV – Cash
(Bicentennial Payment)
• Workfare Bicentennial
Bonus of additional 10% of
WIS payment (minimum
$100)
Education Support
• $150 Edusave top-up for
students in Primary and
Secondary levels
• Up to $500 top-up in Post-
Secondary Education
Accounts (PSEA)
Income Tax Rebate
• 50% Personal Income
Tax Rebate, subject to
cap of $200, for the Year
of Assessment 2019
CPF Top-up
• Up to $1,000 CPF top-up
for about 300,000
Singaporeans aged 50 to
64 who have lower CPF
balances
Enhanced CHAS
• Extend CHAS to cover all
Singaporeans for chronic
conditions: Green card
• CHAS Orange cardholders
will be given subsidies for
common illnesses
MediSave Top-up
• 5-year MediSave top-up
of $100 per year from
2019-2023 for:
• Those aged 50 and
above in 2019 without
MGP/PGP
For Families (MOF, MOM, MOE & MOH)
Income, Education, Healthcare and Retirement
Support
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18. • $300 million top-up for research in areas e.g. AI
and cyber security
• Inter-agency task force on AI to be set up to
study growing capabilities etc
• Singapore targets to produce 30% of its
nutritional needs locally by 2030
• Drone applications to be tested in maritime
drone estate over Marina South
For the Economy (PMO, MCI, MEWR & MOT)
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19. • New Home Team Science and Technology
Agency
• New one-stop centre for NS-related services at
NS Hub in Cashew by 2023
• Army will ensure inspection of all high-risk and
field training for safety
• New laws planned to counter disinformation
and foreign interference
For National Security (MINDEF, MHA & MinLaw)
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20. • 7 Volunteer Centres will be set up for volunteer
matching, deployment and training in towns
throughout Singapore by end-2019
• One-stop volunteer.sg portal to encourage more
sustained volunteerism
• SGSecure Community Network's (SGCN) Crisis
Preparedness Accreditation Scheme for
Religious Organisations (ROs)
• National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC)
will be the “go-to” agency for corporate giving
For a Caring Society (MCCY)
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21. For the Malay/Muslim Community (MCCY)
• Expansion of M³’s KelasMateMatika@CC to five
more locations, benefitting 1,500 beneficiaries
• Expansion of M³@Town to six more towns to
mobilise the community for a more effective last-
mile service delivery
• MENDAKI appointed as a pre-school outreach
agency by the Early Childhood Development
Agency (ECDA)
• MENDAKI to pilot the Empowerment
Programme for Boys and Empowerment
Programme for Girls for Malay/Muslim ITE
students
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22. For the Malay/Muslim Community (MCCY)
• MUIS to set up the Committee on Future
Asatizah to engage the community on the
desired skills of our asatizah
• International Baccalaureate Diploma
Programme introduced at Madrasah Aljunied
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23. Implications on the
Malay/Muslim Community

24. For Students and Youths
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Budget Policies Implications on the MMC
 Removal of streaming
 After-school programmes expansion
 Uplift Programme Office
 SGYouth Action Plan
 M/M parents should be informed of
the new subject-based banding
system, so that their child can make
the most out of it
 M/M low-income families should be
informed of after-school programmes
and Uplift initiatives
 M/M youths should participate in the
SGYouth Action Plan engagement

25. For Businesses
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Budget Policies Implications on the MMC
 SMEs Go Digital
 Enterprise Financing Scheme
 Enterprise Development Grant
 Productivity Solutions Grant
 Centres of Innovation in Aquaculture
and Energy
 M/M SMEs should leverage these
grants and programmes so that they
can digitise, cover operating costs
and increase productivity
 M/M SMEs can benefit from business
advisory services at SME Centre
@SMCCI and Enterprise Singapore

26. For Workers
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Budget Policies Implications on the MMC
 Enhanced Workfare Income
Supplement Scheme
 Medisave top-up assistance for self-
employed
 Raised retirement age
 Global Ready Talent Programme
 Professional Conversion Programmes
 Career Support Programme
 Job Redesign Guide
 M/M low-income workers should be
informed of the WIS eligibility criteria
 M/M self-employed workers should
be informed of the Medisave top-up
assistance
 M/M senior citizens should be
informed of flexible work
arrangements
 Identify M/M students and
professionals for the various
programmes

27. For Seniors
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Budget Policies Implications on the MMC
 Merdeka Generation Package (MGP)  M/M Merdeka Generation should be
informed of the MGP benefits
 Encourage M/M Merdeka Generation
to lead an active lifestyle by utilising
PAssion Silver Card
 Encourage M/M Merdeka Generation
to join CareShield Life

28. For Families
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Budget Policies Implications on the MMC
 Enhanced childcare subsidies for non-
working mums
 Enhanced ComCare Long-Term
Assistance (PA)
 Home ownership for low-income
 Community Link hubs
 Localised Community Network
 Preventive health measures
 Special needs workgroups
 Household support
 Encourage M/M mums to find work
and send their child for childcare
 M/M low-income families should be
informed of enhanced PA and home
ownership schemes, and tap on
Community Link and Localised
Community Network
 Encourage M/M families to sign up
for preventive health measures

29. For a Caring Society
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Budget Policies Implications on the MMC
 Volunteer Centres
 Volunteer.sg portal
 Crisis Preparedness Accreditation
Scheme
 NVPC as corporate giving coordinator
 Encourage M/M youths and
professionals to volunteer for
national causes through Volunteer
Centres and Volunteer.sg portal
 MMOs should work with NVPC and
see how we can benefit from
corporate giving

30. Thank you!
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