The support package was first launched in May last year to create 100,000 opportunities to help Singaporean workers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. As at end-December, nearly 76,000 people have been placed into jobs, traineeships, attachments and skills training opportunities, Heng said during his Budget speech. Of the $5.4 billion, $5.2 billion will go to extending the Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI) for seven months. Currently, under the JGI, firms that hire local workers from September 2020 to February 2021 will receive a subsidy of 25% of the first $5,000 of their gross monthly salaries. With the scheme now extended up to end-September this year, companies will be getting up to 12 months of wage support. Furthermore, companies who hire mature workers, persons with disabilities and ex-offenders will get more help of up to 18 months of enhanced wage support, Heng added. To groom leaders in innovation and enterprise, as Singapore heads into a more technologically-intensive and innovation-driven economy, there will be a new Innovation and Enterprise Fellowship programme, with the National Research Foundation (NRF) supporting about 500 fellowships over the next five years, said Heng.