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SINGAPORE: A total of 32 companies have returned combined Employment Support Plan (JSS) payments of S $ 35 million as of May 9, a spokesman for the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Sunday (May 10) .
These companies have also pledged to reject future JSS payments from the government, the spokesperson said in response to CNA inquiries, adding that the S $ 35 million, which was the companies’ payment for April, will be used for disbursements. futures.
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In addition, 29 other companies that received the funds for April have said they will reject future JSS payments.
READ: Solidarity budget: Singapore spends another S $ 5.1 billion to save jobs, protect livelihoods amid impending switch rules
First announced by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in the February Budget, the JSS is a wage subsidy program to help companies retain and pay their workers as companies are affected by the impact of COVID -19.
In April and May, the subsidies will cover 75 percent of the first S $ 4,600 of each local employee’s salary.
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April payments, covering 140,000 employers and more than 1.9 million local employee wages originally totaled more than S $ 7 billion.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Heng said that the companies that have returned the first installment of payments and rejected future payments include multinational corporations, financial institutions and local companies in different sectors.
“I am very encouraged by their sense of responsibility and shared community,” he wrote, noting that some companies have coped better than others in the current situation.
“I hope their exemplary action inspires other companies that are doing well to consider doing the same.”
He said that in addition to returning JSS funds, companies may also consider donating to charitable causes.
“I hope they also show appreciation and appreciation for their workers who have intensified during the period of the switch,” he added.
One company that donated its payments is the Dutch multinational DSM Nutritional Products.
Its Asia-Pacific president Pieter Nuboer said the company was fortunate that its global business model has proven to be “relatively resilient.”
“At the same time, many companies and groups in society are in dire need,” added Nuboer.
“Regarding any government support that comes our way, therefore, we are very clear about our moral commitment,” he said. “It is to redirect these funds to those most in need.”
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