Formalising mediation in Covid-19

I REFER to the article "New fronts for mediation as preferred form of dispute resolution amid Covid-19" (BT, June 1, 2020) which reported on the new mediation protocol implemented by the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC).

I am heartened by SIMC's efforts to promote the use of virtual mediation as a means to efficiently and economically resolve disputes via an amicable process instead of litigation.

However, SIMC's initiative is limited to the mediation of cross-border commercial disputes. Given the significant impact on Singapore's economy caused by the Covid-19 crisis, I am of the view that the Singapore government should do more to promote the use of mediation for domestic disputes, as well as an alternative to the legal assessment mechanism under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020.