Analysts expect provisions to be made in Budget for social spending

Singapore

WHILE it is almost certain that Budget 2020 will be packed with economic assistance and tax reliefs to soften the blow of the Covid-19 virus on businesses and help them tide over this period of uncertainty, the poor and the vulnerable are not likely to be forgotten.

Private-sector economists and researchers whom BT spoke to in the past week expect bigger allocations for special spending in this year's Budget, even though the spotlight would be on the current plight of firms - small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) especially, whose businesses are disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak.