Open Door Fund
We want to empower you to promote employment of persons with disabilities!
 
What is the Open Door Fund?
In July 2006, the ENABLE Fund was launched and it aimed to provide persons with disabilities equal opportunities to seek employment in the open market. The ENABLE Fund has been revised to allow more employers to tap the fund to employ persons with disabilities. With the revisions, the ENABLE Fund has been renamed The Open Door Fund. The Open Door was the theme of the 2006 Disability Awareness Public Education programme, organised by the National Council of Social Service.

The term "Open Door" encapsulates the role of employers in opening doors for persons with disabilities to secure employment. It also signifies the effort needed on the part of persons with disabilities to acquire the necessary skill sets for work to walk through the open door. The Open Door Fund came into effect on 1 May 2007.

The fund provides employers financial support to redesign jobs, modify workplaces and train persons with disabilities, and encourages employers to look beyond the disability and recruit based on merit. There are many persons with disabilities who are as competent as their non-disabled counterparts but are often overlooked in job interviews because of their disabilities. With the Open Door Fund, we hope that more companies would come forward and give persons with disabilities equal opportunities in seeking employment.

The Open Door Fund is set up by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, supported by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, and administered by the Singapore National Employers Federation.
 
With the Open Door Fund:
  1. Each company can claim financial assistance for any project that facilitates the employment of persons with disabilities.
     
  2. Funding consists of:
    • Up to 30% for any cost of IPR (e.g. licensing and royalties for processes etc);
       
    • Up to 70% for salaries of company staff engaged in the redesign or consultancies paid to third parties;
       
    • Up to 90% for actual cost of leasing (up to 12 months) or purchase of equipment and physical/building modifications.
       
    • Up to 90% for the training cost of persons with disabilities (including internal and external training) and the basic salary cost while the person with disability undergoes training.
       
    • o Up to 90% for other items, e.g., mentorship, engagement of job coaches or other adjustment programmes to integrate the persons with disabilities into the company.
Give Persons with Disabilities a chance now!
The Open Door Fund is open and available to companies that meet the following requirements :
  • Company registered or based in Singapore
     
  • Commitment to employ persons with disabilities who are Singaporean/Singapore PRs, on at least a one-year contract or more.
     
  • A minimum of 4 persons with disabilities have to be hired. Existing persons with disabilities can be included as part of the 4 persons with disabilities in order for companies to qualify for the Fund, although the Fund can only be tapped for new hires.
For more information on the Open Door Fund, please email your queries to opendoor@snef.org.sg or call 6827 6938. A representative from Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) will contact you to better understand the needs of your company.
 
Examples of how the Open Door Fund can be tapped on
  1. Re-design of Job Scope/Process - Breaking up the work process into smaller stages.
     
    To facilitate the employment of Ravi, who has previously suffered from stroke, Company A can engage an occupational therapist using the Open Door Fund to simplify the job steps for this individual.
     
  2. Workplace Modification - Building modifications for easy accessibility.
     
    Company B has a job which Kong Ru, a wheelchair user, is suitably qualified for. However, gaining access to the office building through the stairs is difficult. The Open Door Fund can be tapped to build a ramp to facilitate Kong Ru's access to his workplace. Alternatively, the Open Door Fund can also be tapped to alter the workplace height or length to help Kong Ru perform optimally.
     
  3. Training Programmes - Develop training methods and materials.
     
    Razali, a person with autism, is being hired by Company C to do regular filing work. Company C can tap on the Open Door Fund to provide special training and perhaps a job coach for Razali to facilitate in his work.
     
  4. Integration Programmes - Orientation programmes and training for company supervisors and co-workers.
     
    Company D can tap on the Open Door Fund to engage a consultant to orientate Peter, a visually impaired individual, to the workplace and nearby vicinities, as well as facilitate in interacting with Company D's employees.
     
 
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