MPs urge more help for firms amid Covid-19 outbreak

Many want longer duration of aid as well as faster disbursal of assistance; there are also calls to support construction firms and healthcare workers

Janice Heng

Published Thu, Feb 27, 2020 · 09:50 PM

Covid-19

Singapore

SUPPORT for firms amid the Covid-19 outbreak was the main theme of the Budget debate's second day. Of the 23 Members of Parliament (MPs) who took the floor, more than half lauded current efforts but asked if more can be done.

Many asked for a longer duration of help. Foo Mee Har asked if the three months of 8 per cent wage offsets in the Jobs Support Scheme could increase to six months of 12 per cent offsets.

Noting that the scheme covers the last quarter of 2019, Chong Kee Hiong asked: "What about businesses that started operating this year but are also affected by Covid-19?"

He and other MPs hoped that help could be disbursed swifter. Noting that banks might only approve…