Singapore Extends Key Senior Worker Grant to 2027

In a strategic move to address its ageing demographic, the Singapore government has announced the extension of the Part-Time Re-employment Grant (PTRG) through to the end of 2027. This initiative, a cornerstone of the nation’s senior employment strategy, provides financial incentives for companies to retain or hire workers aged 60 and above in part-time or redesigned roles. The extension, announced by the Ministry of Manpower, offers employers nearly two additional years to apply for funding, ensuring continued support for flexible work pathways into retirement.

Grant Details and Impact

Under the PTRG scheme, employers receive S$2,500 per eligible senior worker, with a cap of S$125,000 per company. The grant supports both the hiring of new older employees and the transition of existing staff to part-time arrangements with adjusted hours or responsibilities. Since its inception in 2020, the program has seen significant uptake, with over 7,500 employers and more than 65,000 senior workers benefiting. As of November, approximately S$92 million has been disbursed, underscoring the program’s role in modernizing workplace expectations for later life.

The ministry stated that the PTRG ensures work for older Singaporeans can be “sustainable and meaningful.” This policy direction goes beyond words, representing a concrete fiscal commitment to an ageing workforce. The sustained demand for the grant reflects broader demographic pressures, as Singapore contends with one of the world’s fastest-ageing populations and a shrinking pool of working-age residents.

Part of a Broader National Strategy

The PTRG extension is not an isolated measure but part of a comprehensive suite of policies designed to raise labor force participation among older adults. Complementary initiatives include the Senior Employment Credit, which offers wage offsets, and the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, providing mid-career training subsidies. Furthermore, the government convened the Tripartite Workgroup on Senior Employment in July 2025, fostering collaboration between unions, business groups, and agencies to promote age-friendly job design.

This multi-pronged approach gives companies the necessary time to adjust their human resource practices. For a nation facing the economic implications of an ageing society, such proactive policy-making is crucial. Just as leaders elsewhere address their unique challenges—whether one hails troops, offers condolences, or writes to a senate—Singapore’s government is taking definitive action to secure a sustainable and inclusive future for its mature workforce.