Disruptions caused by COVID-19, support for hard-hit sectors among concerns raised by MPs
SINGAPORE: Members of Parliament (MPs) raised a wide range of concerns including disruptions caused by COVID-19 restrictions, extending support for hard-hit sectors and the mental toll of the pandemic, during a lengthy debate on the Government’s latest COVID-19 support measures on Tuesday (Jul 27).
The support package for the current Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), which will last for four weeks until Aug 18, was announced by the Ministry of Finance last week.
Expected to cost S$1.1 billion, it includes higher wage support under the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) and rental relief for eligible businesses.
Taken together with the S$1.2 billion package announced weeks earlier to cover the period of “heightened alert” since mid-May, the Government will be setting aside more than S$2 billion to support those affected by the tightened measures.