Singapore offers US$74,500 bonus to retain nurses, amid labour shortage, ageing population

About 29,000 nurses in the publicly funded healthcare system will be eligible under the new retention plan, in which they would receive payouts over a 20-year period, or up to the prevailing retirement age, whichever is earlier, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a speech on Tuesday.

“We want to support our nurses to do a good job,” Ong said.

The benefits are also open to foreign nurses after they have served four years in the country’s public healthcare sector.

Last year, the authorities introduced a sign-on bonus of S$15,000 for fresh nursing graduates who joined public hospitals or clinics.

Ong said intake numbers for nursing students increased by about 30 per cent from 2013 to 2023.

“It is worth pointing out that with falling birth rates, fewer babies, and shrinking student cohorts, just keeping these intakes stable is a very encouraging outcome,” said Ong.

The health ministry estimates that one in four Singaporeans will be 65 or older by 2030, while an estimated 83,000 seniors will live alone.

Ong also said the government would be reviewing the competitiveness of other healthcare professions and make adjustments to pay packages as necessary.