MPs: Coronavirus concerns present long-term opportunities
These include prompting businesses to adopt e-commerce and diversifying supply sources
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Cleaners were among the front-line workers praised by at least six MPs during the Budget debate, with many calling for stronger social and financial support for them. Nominated MP Walter Theseira also pointed out the disparity between the wages that workers such as cleaners earn and the social value they bring, and suggested increasing their pay.
ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
Tiffany Fumiko Tay
While the coronavirus outbreak has battered businesses, it has also created opportunities to better prepare Singapore for future challenges, MPs said yesterday.
Speaking on day two of the debate on the Budget statement, they said these include getting more companies to adopt e-commerce, diversifying supply sources as well as making flexible work arrangements permanent for working parents and caregivers.
Fifty-four MPs, including political office-holders, spoke over two days on various aspects of the Budget.
Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) said the shortage of surgical masks highlights the need to diversify Singapore's supply sources as the virus affects the global trade of goods and supplies.
While the Government has announced its intention to seek new sources and look into manufacturing masks locally, "we need to take stock of what other items, besides masks, we potentially need to manufacture on our own in the future", he said.
Pointing to companies that face difficulties in diversifying their supply sources, Mr de Souza asked whether government support is available to help them connect with more diverse trade partners.
Business continuity plans put in place by many companies in recent weeks also provide an opportunity to test whether flexible working arrangements are feasible, he said.
"If it works, more firms may be ready and confident to try adopting it as an available standard practice to support our working parents with young children and working caregivers."
Mr Chong Kee Hiong (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) asked for more support for companies that are adopting or expanding e-commerce operations.
"This crisis provides the impetus to push SMEs which have been reluctant to consider this sales avenue," he said, referring to small and medium-sized enterprises.
Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson) called for more recognition and support for freelancers, whom she said are especially vulnerable to changes in economic conditions.
Many have little in terms of savings to see them through a work drought, she said, noting that a number of events and work assignments have been cancelled or deferred as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
She asked whether working capital loans or other measures aimed at helping businesses with cash flow issues could be extended to freelancers as well.
Noting that many freelancers are engaged by government departments, Mr Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC) asked if they can be paid up to half of their fees when large events are cancelled because of the virus.
Some MPs also echoed calls by those who spoke on Wednesday in urging more immediate and extensive financial support for companies and employees.
Mr Chong asked if the Jobs Support Scheme, which will offset wages of local employees for three months ending last December, could be extended to businesses that began operations this year.
Ms Foo Mee Har (West Coast GRC) asked whether Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat would consider a second relief package, if warranted. "With the $7.7 billion of Budget surplus left for this term of government to tap, DPM Heng has ample ammunition to do more," she said.
Mr Ong Teng Koon (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) said he had received feedback that the measures in the $4 billion Stabilisation and Support Package are adequate for small firms, but not medium-sized ones.
The cap for the corporate income tax rebate, for example, is $15,000 - a drop in the ocean for a medium-sized company, he said, adding that assistance should be calibrated to the size of an enterprise.
Mr Ong also asked how cash flow assistance can be sped up, given that many businesses are now running down their reserves while their suppliers are unable to extend credit.
At least six MPs also praised front-line workers such as doctors, nurses and cleaners, with many calling for stronger social and financial support for those most directly exposed to the virus.
Nominated MP Mohamed Irshad said the bonuses of healthcare workers may be impacted if hospital revenues take a hit from the outbreak. "Given the extraordinary circumstances, I hope the Finance Minister will consider extending financial support or even bonuses to our nurses and doctors who are in the front line," he said.
Fellow Nominated MP Walter Theseira pointed out the disparity between the wages that workers such as cleaners earn and the social value that they bring, particularly during a public health crisis.
The solution to the imbalance, he said, is to increase the wages of lower-paid workers.
This could be paid for by restructuring wages for higher-paying jobs, including those held by parliamentarians who are leaders in their own professions, said Associate Professor Theseira, who teaches economics at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
"Today, we commend our cleaners and security guards, nurses and public health workers, for being in the front line of protecting us against Covid-19. We acknowledge the work of our public transport workers, our hawkers and shopkeepers, in keeping our supply lines and daily life running as normal.
"Can we give them a tangible increase in their salaries to acknowledge their sacrifices?" he said.
Mr de Souza, who was the last to speak yesterday, said a crisis can bring out the best and worst in a society. While there may be disagreements on fiscal measures and social policy, how these differences are resolved is key, he said.
He noted that many of his colleagues' speeches featured the undercurrent of unity, with Workers' Party MP Png Eng Huat (Hougang), for example, highlighting the need to unite rather than point fingers and stigmatise.
DPM Heng will respond to the MPs when he rounds up the Budget debate today.
