[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: The Self Employed Income Relief Program (SIRS) paid around S $ 1.8 billion to nearly 200,000 eligible people between April and December this year, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the National Congress said on Wednesday of Trade Unions (NTUC) (December 16).
The plan, aimed at supporting the self-employed through the COVID-19 pandemic, offers three cash payments of S $ 3,000 each to the self-employed with the least means and family support.
Most of the payments were disbursed quarterly in May, July and October. Payments were made progressively depending on when applications for the scheme were submitted, NTUC said on its website.
READ: Comment: Phase 3 will bring us the much-needed close of a difficult year
SIRS, which comes to an end at the end of the year, was first announced in March as part of the government’s third budget.
More than half of SIRS beneficiaries were automatically eligible, while the rest successfully applied for the scheme, the MOM and the union said in a joint press release. Seven out of 10 applications processed by NTUC were approved.
“We have exercised flexibility in the qualification criteria to support more SEPs (freelancers),” the organizations said.
READ: The Big Read: With COVID-19 Wiping Out Jobs, Many Are Feeling The Pain, And It Will Get Worse
The rejected applications included applicants who earned much higher incomes, resided in high-value properties, or owned two or more properties with their spouses. Some applicants were unable to provide proof that they were self-employed.
SIRS payments will cover affected freelancers through the end of December, and applications will close on December 31.
Separately, two new financial support schemes for 2021 were announced on Wednesday: the COVID-19 Recovery Grant and the COVID-19 Driver Assistance Fund for taxi drivers and private rental car drivers.
CHECK THIS: Our full coverage of the novel coronavirus and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
