Introduced in 2007, the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme is a broad-based measure that tops up the salaries of our lower-income workers and helps them save for retirement.
Workfare payouts are targeted at lower-income workers with less household support, with higher payouts for older workers. Workfare can comprise up to an extra 30 per cent of the worker's monthly income.
Workfare and Progressive Wage Model (PWM), together with many other support measures, have uplifted low-wage workers while keeping employment levels high and unemployment levels low. They are a clear expression of our social solidarity and by no means inferior to a minimum wage.
Most Workfare recipients also receive holistic support from Government to help meet their living needs.
Government pays for Workfare and the above supplements. Employers and consumers do not pay for these.
