Quick Takes: What the business community says about Singapore's Aug 10 reopening

SINGAPORE on Friday evening announced plans to ease Covid-19 restrictions through a "vaccination-differentiated" strategy. This includes allowing dining-in for certain groups, resuming entry approvals for vaccinated work pass holders, and requiring workers in high-risk settings to get inoculated or face bi-weekly testing.

Here's what the business community has to say about the latest measures.

Lam Yi Young, chief executive of the Singapore Business Federation

"Businesses welcome the government's latest four-step transition roadmap as it lays out a clear plan for moving ahead. It gives businesses ... hope for recovery and growth. It also provides clarity for businesses to plan for the months ahead.

"Although there may be some teething issues with managing differentiation by vaccination status, we believe these can be managed and that differentiation by vaccination status is the right way to go.

"Businesses also look forward to the easing of travel restrictions and resumption of essential business travel. We hope the government will continue to work on reciprocal green lanes and travel corridors with other countries to facilitate travel."

Victor Mills, CEO of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce

"The announcements are the best National Day present. It represents progress towards living with endemic Covid-19 rather than managing the pandemic.

"The situation has really been very difficult for employment pass holders and other pass holders who had to leave Singapore over the course of the last several months, predominantly because of family reasons.

"I know many cases where people have been in limbo now for months. We're talking about parents who have been separated from spouses or partners and children. It has been absolutely traumatic. So this news is very welcome."

Ang Yuit, vice-president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises

"While businesses were very concerned when we went back into heightened alert, coming out of heightened alert ahead of schedule with differentiated approaches for the fully vaccinated gives us a clarity about where we are headed and increases business confidence in the clarity of Singapore's roadmap.

"Many businesspeople have been raring to get back into the regional or international scene. While this isn't an issue that Singapore alone can solve, we can look at how the resumption of travel can complement the last year or more of businesses moving towards digital. We can look at the help and assistance that can be tweaked to support the new modes of businesses."

Sean Tan, president of the Singapore Fitness Alliance

"I don't believe the implementation of vaccination-differentiated measures will be too difficult ... In any case, our industry is so accustomed to implementing so many different measures over these last 16 months that they can do so without too much difficulty.

"We do however need to see what measures there will be for those who are unable to get vaccinated. It is important that there also be fair measures rolled out to accommodate them to make sure they are not left behind.

"It is important to note that even with these newly-announced measures, our businesses will still not be able to operate as they did pre-Covid-19 ... Further support measures such as rental waivers, interest-free rent deferments, or legislation to allow businesses to pre-terminate their leases without penalty would be welcomed."

Andrew Kwan, president of the Restaurant Association of Singapore

"We are deeply appreciative of the prudent yet progressive decision to allow for five-pax dine-in for vaccinated and qualified individuals, starting from Aug 10, 2021, ahead of the original slated reopening date.

"With this relaxation of the safe management measure (SMM) rule for five fully vaccinated and eligible persons to dine in, we seek the patience and understanding of both the safe distancing ambassadors and our customers to grant restaurant teams and crew the space and grace as they endeavour to comply with the latest mandatory measures and rules."

Rose Tong, executive director of the Singapore Retailers Association (SRA)

"It is a welcome start to inject more confidence to resume life normalcy ... Although we may be out of the Phase Two (Heightened Alert), we are certainly not out of the woods. The SRA hopes that the government can give retailers and food and beverage operators a breather and mandate landlords to convert rentals strictly on gross turnover, capped at 15 per cent, to allow businesses to rebuild themselves as restrictions are lifted and travel borders are re-opened. Any consideration of mandatory wage increases or Goods and Services Tax hike should also be put on hold till 2023 or later to allow businesses to nurse themselves back to better business health."

Ministry of Manpower, National Trades Union Congress, and Singapore National Employers Federation

"The tripartite partners are supportive of the government's move to adopt vaccination or regular testing for all persons working in selected sectors as well as the public service, which is taking the lead.

"The tripartite partners will review the existing advisory on Covid-19 vaccination in employment settings with a view to further drive up vaccination rates so that our workplaces remain safe. We target to issue the updated advisory by mid-August."