Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced that the Government will further enhance the Solidarity Budget by another $3.8 billion, in lieu of the extension of the on-going circuit breaker measures.
Mr Heng made this announcement during a live telecast of the Multi-Ministry Taskforce press conference, following Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s televised address to Singapore.
Mr Heng said: “I will further enhance the Job Support Scheme, to include certain groups of shareholder directors. These are employees of a company who are also shareholders and directors, who will miss out on the Jobs Support Scheme and Self-employed Income Relief Scheme.”
Mr Heng stated that all sectors will continue to benefit from the 75 per cent JSS funding in May.
Mr Heng also announced the waiver of the foreign worker levy due in May 2020.
The Government will also provide employers with another $750 in foreign worker levy rebates for every foreign worker in employment.
Sole breadwinners who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for the COVID-19 Support Grant from 1 May 2020, and the Temporary Relief Fund, he added.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister announced that the circuit breaker will be extended until 1 June 2020 due to a fluctuation of COVID-19 cases, particularly within the foreign worker dormitories.
There will also be heightened circuit-breaking measures until 4 May 2020.
In his speech, Mr Lee assured that the migrant-worker community would be given the same level of care as Singaporeans should they fall victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Development Minister Lawrence Wong announced a further reduction of essential services during the heightened circuit breaker measures, bringing the percentage of the workforce having to travel for work down to 15 per cent, from 20 per cent previously.
According the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) with effect from 21 April 2020 at 11.59pm, standalone outlets within the F&B industry will be required to close.
Examples include outlets that sell only beverages, packaged snacks, confectioneries or deserts.
Hairdressing and barber shops will also be required to close.
Additional restrictions will be placed on selected consumer-facing businesses to further reduce customer interactions.
These would include optician shops which will be allowed to only operate on appointment basis.
