Productivity not a priority among most firms: KPMG

Singapore

ONLY 9.8 per cent of firms polled by KPMG say they are most concerned with improving productivity this year - even with the government's exhortations to firms to redouble their productivity efforts.

Describing the situation as worrying, KPMG head of tax Tay Hong Beng said that firms are far more concerned with tackling immediate business issues, such as rising rental and labour costs. Indeed, 40.9 per cent of respondents cited this as their most pressing operational issue over the next 12 months.