Compliance

CDAC, MBMF, SINDA and ECF: Self-Help Group Funds Explained (2026)

Singapore's Self-Help Group (SHG) fund contributions — CDAC, MBMF/Mendaki, SINDA and ECF: who contributes to which, the 2026 monthly amounts, how to opt out, and how employers remit them.

AimmPayroll Asia2 min read19 Jun 2026

Self-Help Group (SHG) funds are small monthly contributions deducted from an employee's wages, by community: CDAC (Chinese), MBMF/Mendaki (Muslim), SINDA (Indian) and ECF (Eurasian). The employee pays; the employer deducts and remits them with CPF. They are automatic unless the employee opts out.

This guide explains who contributes to which fund, the 2026 amounts, and the employer's role.

What are the SHG funds?

The four Self-Help Groups support their respective communities through education and assistance programmes. Employee contributions are collected by the CPF Board on the funds' behalf, alongside CPF — so there is no separate filing.

CommunityFund
ChineseCDAC — Chinese Development Assistance Council
MuslimMBMF — Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund
IndianSINDA — Singapore Indian Development Association
EurasianECF — Eurasian Community Fund

2026 contribution rates

Contributions are tiered by monthly wage. The full CDAC and MBMF tables, and the range for SINDA and ECF, are below.

CDAC (Chinese)

Monthly wageContribution
Up to S$2,000S$0.50
Above S$2,000 to S$3,500S$1.00
Above S$3,500 to S$5,000S$1.50
Above S$5,000 to S$7,500S$2.00
Above S$7,500S$3.00

MBMF (Muslim)

Monthly wageContribution
Up to S$1,000S$3.00
Above S$1,000 to S$2,000S$4.50
Above S$2,000 to S$3,000S$6.50
Above S$3,000 to S$4,000S$15.00
Above S$4,000 to S$6,000S$19.50
Above S$6,000 to S$8,000S$22.00
Above S$8,000 to S$10,000S$24.00
Above S$10,000S$26.00

SINDA (Indian) ranges from S$1.00 (wages up to S$1,000) to S$30.00 (above S$15,000). ECF (Eurasian) ranges from S$2.00 (up to S$1,000) to S$20.00 (above S$10,000).

Amounts as of 2026 — always confirm the current rates with the official funds: CDAC, Mendaki/MBMF, SINDA and the Eurasian Association, or via the CPF Board.

The employer's role

You deduct the contribution from the employee's wages and remit it together with your CPF submission via CPF eZpay. The employer pays no extra share — unlike CPF (where you pay an employer portion) or the Skills Development Levy (which is fully employer-funded).

Opting out

SHG contributions are automatic for employees of the relevant community. An employee who does not wish to contribute — or who wishes to contribute a different amount — can apply directly to the relevant fund to opt out or vary it. Until they do, deduct and remit the standard amount.

How AimmPayroll handles SHG funds

AimmPayroll assigns the correct fund from each employee's community, applies the right tier for their wage, deducts it on the payslip, and remits it through the CPF eZpay file — part of the same monthly payroll cycle. Start free for up to three employees.

Frequently asked questions

What are CDAC, MBMF, SINDA and ECF?+

They are Singapore's four Self-Help Group (SHG) funds, each supporting a community: CDAC for the Chinese community, the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF) for Muslims, SINDA for the Indian community, and the Eurasian Community Fund (ECF) for Eurasians. Employees contribute a small monthly amount that is deducted from their wages.

Who pays SHG contributions — the employer or the employee?+

The employee pays. The employer deducts the contribution from the employee's wages and remits it to the CPF Board together with the monthly CPF contributions. The employer does not pay an additional share.

Are SHG contributions compulsory?+

They are automatic (opt-out) for employees of the relevant community. An employee who does not wish to contribute can opt out by applying directly to the relevant fund; until they do, you should deduct and remit the contribution.

How much is the CDAC contribution?+

CDAC is tiered by monthly wage: S$0.50 for wages up to S$2,000, S$1.00 for S$2,000–3,500, S$1.50 for S$3,500–5,000, S$2.00 for S$5,000–7,500, and S$3.00 above S$7,500.

Which fund does a Muslim employee contribute to?+

Muslim employees contribute to the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF), which is tiered by wage from S$3.00 up to S$26.00 a month. A Chinese employee contributes to CDAC, an Indian employee to SINDA, and a Eurasian employee to ECF.

Run Singapore payroll without the rework

Readiness checks before every run; CPF eZpay, GIRO and IRAS AIS files from the same reviewed figures; and an audit trail that's ready when someone asks. Free for up to 3 employees.