Tharman announced Jobs Credit for employing Singaporeans

From CNA,

SINGAPORE: The government will introduce a Jobs Credit which will encourage businesses to preserve jobs as much as is possible in the downturn.

Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said: "The Jobs Credit will provide every employer with a cash grant to reduce their costs of employing Singaporean workers during the crisis.

"The Jobs Credit that an employer receives will comprise 12% of the first $2500 of the wages of each employer who is on the CPF payroll. It will be given in four quarterly payments, with each payment being based on the workers who are with the employer at the time.

"This will therefore provide incentive for employers to retain their local workers..... Employers will receive the first payment at the end of March this year....The Jobs Credit of 12% of wages will be equivalent to a 9 percentage point CPF cut."