Last updated: 11 November 2026
Absentee Payroll funding helps an employer with the cost of staff time away from work while they attend a funded course. GoBusiness, the government’s business portal, sets the rate at S$4.50 per hour, with a cap per organisation each calendar year. The employer makes the claim, not the employee.
What does Absentee Payroll funding cover?
The funding is paid to the employer for the hours that staff spend on a funded course. It sits alongside the SSG/SWDA subsidy (SSG stands for SkillsFuture Singapore, now part of the Skills and Workforce Development Agency, SWDA). The subsidy lowers the course fee, and Absentee Payroll funding contributes towards the salary cost of the time spent in training.
Who can claim Absentee Payroll funding?
GoBusiness sets these conditions:
- The trainee is a Singapore Citizen, a Singapore Permanent Resident or a Long-Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+) holder.
- The course is a funded course.
- The employer pays the course fee in full.
- The employer files the claim on the Enterprise Portal for Jobs and Skills.
How much can an employer claim?
The rate is S$4.50 per training hour for each eligible trainee. The cap is S$100,000 per organisation per calendar year.
The example below is invented for illustration.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Eligible staff on the course | 5 |
| Course length | 16 hours |
| Training hours | 80 hours |
| Rate | S$4.50 per hour |
| Absentee Payroll funding | S$360 |
How do you claim Absentee Payroll funding?
GoBusiness has a page on how to claim Absentee Payroll funding, and the claim is made on the Enterprise Portal for Jobs and Skills. Before you send staff on a course, confirm with the provider that the course is funded and ask for the course reference number, then keep the attendance records and invoice for the claim.
How does it fit with other employer schemes?
Absentee Payroll funding covers staff time. The SSG/SWDA subsidy covers part of the fee, and the Enterprise Innovation Scheme offers a tax deduction or cash payout on the fees your company pays. Our guide to funding for AI and skills training in Singapore compares every scheme, and the guide to the SSG/SWDA course fee subsidy explains the net fee.
Check your funding with our team
QD Academy’s courses are taught by practitioners and funded for eligible learners. Our team checks which schemes apply to your company and helps with the paperwork and claims for our own courses. See the Grants and Subsidies page for our calculators, or open a course page: Developing an Effective Customer Journey Map Using AI and Automation, AI-Powered Productivity Strategies for the Modern Workplace or Mastering AI for Sales Growth and Team Dynamics. Check the course page for the latest dates, fees and funding.
Does Absentee Payroll funding go to the employee or the employer?
It goes to the employer. The employer files the claim on the Enterprise Portal for Jobs and Skills.
Which employees count?
GoBusiness lists Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents and Long-Term Visit Pass Plus holders as eligible trainees.
What is the rate and the cap?
The rate is S$4.50 per training hour, and the cap is S$100,000 per organisation per calendar year.
Can I claim if the employee pays for the course?
GoBusiness requires the employer to pay the course fee in full, so a course paid for by the employee does not qualify.
Does it replace the SSG/SWDA subsidy?
No. They are separate. The SSG/SWDA subsidy lowers the course fee, and Absentee Payroll funding contributes towards the salary cost of the training hours.