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SINGAPORE: Singapore reported three new cases of COVID-19 as of noon on Saturday (October 17), the Ministry of Health (MINSA) said in its preliminary update.
There is a new case in the community, one living in a bedroom and one with imported infection.
The imported case had been placed on stay-at-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, the Health Ministry said, adding that more details would be released on Saturday night.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 infections in Singapore to 57,904.
Like many countries, Singapore’s economy has been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The country entered a recession in the second quarter after nonessential businesses were shut down as part of measures to contain infections during a nearly two-month “breaker” period.
On Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said that given the magnitude of the COVID-19 crisis, the government may not be able to save all businesses and jobs.
READ: IN FOCUS: Graduating in a COVID-19 Job Market: Short-Term Challenges and Long-Term Issues?
However, the government would continue to support all workers, Heng said, adding that both employers and job seekers must keep an open mind and be willing to adapt and adapt.
On Friday, the National Wage Council also weighed in on the issue, saying that companies that have already exhausted other cost-saving measures should consider implementing temporary pay cuts, but only to the extent necessary to minimize layoffs.
Pay cuts should depend on the performance and prospects of the company, as well as the industry it is in, and the burden of pay cuts will not fall on any particular group, the council said.
With the expectation of further layoffs, a notice published jointly by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) was also updated to provide further guidance to employers. employers in case of dismissal of workers. It was announced on Saturday.
It includes calls for companies to retain Singaporean workers, guidelines on how employers can break the news to their workers more sensitively, as well as for training programs to be part of the post-downsizing package.
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