Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what are the Ministry's plans for the SG Enable Training Grant beyond FY2024; (b) whether new public grant calls will be issued; and (c) how training providers will be supported in delivering employment and independent living skills training for persons with disabilities if funding beyond the current cycle is discontinued.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The SG Enable Training Grant offers up to 95% course fee subsidies and training allowances for persons with disabilities, and absentee payroll for employers.

SG Enable plans to conduct the next Call for Proposals by the first quarter of 2026 for inclusive and mainstream training providers, including social service agencies serving persons with disabilities, to propose training courses and programmes.

Beyond the Training Grant, the Enabling Academy collaborates with training providers to continually expand the range of courses to make them accessible or customised for persons with disabilities to support their professional and personal development. It also conducts regular complimentary workshops on disability inclusion and provides resources to uplift training providers' capabilities in inclusive course design and delivery. 

Link to Hansard: Link

Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what are the retention rates of SG Enable Place-and-Train trainees after one year and three years of the end of the programme; (b) how many individuals have participated in multiple placements with (i) one (ii) two and (iii) three or more employers; and (c) how does the Ministry assess the programme’s effectiveness in supporting sustained employment and career progression.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Introduced in 2021, the Place-and-Train (PnT) programme provides employers with up to 90% salary support and course fee subsidy.

To date, 172 employers have hired 467 persons with disabilities under the programme. From 2021 to 2023, around 80% of persons with disabilities who completed the PnT programme remained employed six months after PnT support ended. Of these, 77% remained with their host employers from PnT.

PnT has been extended for two more years to place and train another 200 persons with disabilities by 2026. The programme continues to encourage employers to start hiring inclusively and provide support for employers to train new employees with disabilities on the job. The Ministry of Social and Family Development will continue to monitor and review the outcomes of the programme to assess its effectiveness.

Link to Hansard: Link