Hafiz is the HR manager at a 45-person F&B group. He has a training budget, a list of courses and a list of grant names: SkillsFuture, SFEC, Absentee Payroll, Job Redesign. Which ones apply? Can he use them together? And what will the company still pay?
This guide covers the main training support for Singapore employers, as of October 2026.
I. The four main types of support
1. Course fee subsidies
When you sponsor employees for an SWDA-funded course, part of the fee is deducted upfront. You pay the nett fee plus GST. SMEs can receive up to 70% for most approved courses, and up to 90% for selected priority courses. Non-SMEs receive lower base rates, with higher support for Singapore Citizens aged 40 and above. (SkillsFuture for Business)
Subsidies apply only to eligible trainees, mainly Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents.
2. Absentee Payroll
This helps cover the cost of staff being away from work. You can claim $4.50 per hour of attended training, up to $100,000 per company each year, after the course ends.
3. SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC)
This is a $10,000 company credit that reduces what you pay after subsidies. A redesigned version, SFEC (Enhanced), starts on 1 December 2026 and deducts the cost upfront. See our Enhanced SFEC guide for details.
4. Workforce Development Grant (Job Redesign+)
This grant is for wider change projects rather than single courses. It covers up to 70% of project costs for SMEs (50% for larger firms), capped at $150,000. It can pay for pre-approved consultants, for building the skills of managers and HR staff, and for HR tech tools. (SWDA FAQ)
Not sure where to begin? The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) offer free workforce transformation advice as SWDA's partners.
II. Quick comparison
| Support | What it pays for | Level of support | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course fee subsidy | Fees for SWDA-funded courses | Up to 70–90% for SMEs | Approved course, eligible trainee |
| Absentee Payroll | Staff time in training | $4.50 per hour | Claimed after the course |
| SFEC | Your remaining share | Up to 90% for some programmes, within $10,000 | Eligible company, supported programme |
| Job Redesign+ | Workforce projects | Up to 70% for SMEs, capped at $150,000 | Pre-approved consultants, application required |
III. Subsidies and credits: what's the difference?
A subsidy lowers the price of one course for one trainee. A credit is a company-level fund that pays part of what's left. The two are designed to work in sequence: subsidy first, then credit.
That doesn't mean every scheme can be combined with every other. Check each programme's own rules.
IV. What you'll usually still pay
- GST, which no scheme covers
- Courses that aren't SWDA-funded, including many custom in-house workshops
- Fees for trainees who aren't eligible, such as most foreign employees
- Consultancy or implementation work outside a supported programme
- Software subscriptions bought separately
For example, Hafiz could book a custom AI workshop for his kitchen managers. If the workshop isn't an approved course, the company pays the full fee. If he picks an approved course instead, the company can receive a subsidy, Absentee Payroll and possibly SFEC.
V. Before you choose a training provider
- Ask for the course reference number. Check it in the SkillsFuture for Business course directory.
- Confirm who qualifies. Funding depends on each trainee's citizenship, age and your company's size.
- Get a full quote. It should show the full fee, subsidy, nett fee and GST.
- Check attendance and assessment rules. Funding is tied to them.
- Question "free" claims. Something usually stays payable, even if it's only GST.
Accreditation matters because only approved courses get subsidies. But accreditation doesn't guarantee a course fits your team. Our guide to choosing corporate AI training explains how to judge relevance.
VI. Start with the skills you need
Funding should support a training plan, not decide it. If you're planning to build your team's AI skills, explore AI Workforce's 90-day AI transformation programmes to plan which skills to build first.
Hafiz is an illustrative example. Funding rates and rules change, so confirm the latest details with SWDA before you commit.