Open Door Programme: Supporting Employers in Integrating Persons with Disabilities

Deadline: 31 March 2018

Disability Employment is seeking applications for its Open Door Programme to support employers in hiring, training and integrating persons with disabilities.

The ODP administered by SG Enable is an initiative by the Workforce Singapore (“WSG”) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (“MSF”) to enhance the employment and employability options for persons with disabilities.

Grant Support

New Employees
- Salary Support and Buddy Allowance
- Salary Support
  - Employer can receive salary support of 70% of the monthly salary of the newly hired person with disabilities, capped at $800 per month, for up to 6 months of employment.
  - The newly hired person with disabilities must be employed for 6 months and the employment contract must have a minimum duration of 1 year.
- Buddy Allowance
  - Employers can encourage inclusivity at the workplace through a one-time buddy allowance grant of $100, for colleagues supporting employees with disabilities.
New and Existing Employees
- Job Re-Design
  - Employer can claim up to 90% of qualifying job redesign cost (excluding GST), capped at $20,000 for each newly hired or existing employee with disability. The Job Re-Design project has to be pre-approved by SG Enable. It includes:
    - Purchase of equipment
    - Workplace Modification
    - Re-design of job scopes or processes
    - Consultancy Services
- Training Course Fee
  - Employers can apply up to 90% course fees funding when they send their employee(s) with disabilities for training course(s). Employers need to seek SG Enable’s approval before course commencement.
- Capability Development
  - Employer who wants to develop capabilities and customise training materials and training delivery for persons with disabilities may apply for funding support.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Grant, applicants must:

Be a Singapore registered company, partnership, sole proprietorship, business or organisation.
Hire or have hired persons with permanent disabilities who are Singapore Citizen(s) or Permanent Resident(s) and meet the following criteria:
- A member and/or service user of relevant Voluntary Welfare Organisations (“VWO”s) providing disability services; or
- Attended Special Education (SPED) schools operated by a VWO; or
- Certified by medical practitioner of any one of the following:
  - Physical Disability
  - Sensory Disability (Visual/Hearing)
  - Autism Spectrum Disorder
  - Intellectual Disability