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SINGAPORE – Some companies have decided to pay back the Government’s Employment Support Plan (JSS) and reject future payments, while others are donating the money to charities, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Sunday (May 10) at night.
A total of 32 companies have returned the payment and will not accept future payments. Meanwhile, 29 companies that received the payment last month also decided to reject future payments, the finance ministry said in a separate statement.
“We have received $ 35 million, which would be used for future payments,” he said.
Heng, who is also Minister of Finance, added in a Facebook post: “I am very encouraged by your sense of responsibility and shared community. I hope their exemplary action inspires other companies that are doing well to consider doing the same. “
A total of $ 7 billion has been set aside, which will go to more than 140,000 employers, under the scheme to help cover the salaries of more than 1.9 million local employees here.
The wage subsidies are intended to save jobs amid improved secure distancing measures, which effectively require most workers to telecommute and those in nonessential services to temporarily cease operations to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
One company that has decided to forego its JSS payment is the German pharmaceutical group Boehringer Ingelheim. Instead, he will donate $ 500,000 to five causes his employees voted for. These are the Migrant Workers Fund, the Sayang Sayang Fund, the Invictus Fund, the Singapore Red Cross and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The Invictus Fund, which channels private donations to social service agencies and was created in April, has raised more than $ 2 million in just over a month. The Sayang Sayang Fund was created by the Singapore Community Foundation and has raised nearly $ 1 million on the Giving.sg donation portal to date.
The money Boehringer Ingelheim is donating makes up the bulk of his JSS payment, said Gerrard McKenna, managing director of the country and head of human pharmacy for the Southeast Asia and South Korea regional operating unit.
“At this time, unlike other industries such as aviation and tourism, our company in Singapore has not been adversely affected,” said McKenna. “We just reached out to all beneficiaries last week, and all the responses have been positive. We are really excited to support them and the causes they advocate for.”
He added that the company plans to do the same for future JSS payments, as long as its business in Singapore and the region continues to be healthy.
Another company that has decided to donate your payment is DSM Nutritional Products. Its business model has proven to be “relatively resilient” despite the crisis, said Asia-Pacific President Pieter Nuboer.
“At the same time, many companies and groups in society are in dire need,” he added. “Regarding any government support that comes our way, therefore, we are very clear about our moral commitment. It is to redirect these funds to those most in need.”
Heng thanked the companies for their commitment, contributions and trust in Singapore as the country addresses the Covid-19 outbreak.
“By uniting and helping each other, we can overcome this crisis and come out stronger,” he said. “This is the spirit of our Singapore Together movement.”
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