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SINGAPORE: Around 25 nightlife establishments will be allowed to reopen as part of a pilot program, the Singapore Nightlife Business Association (SNBA) said on Monday (Nov 9) when it urged those who continue to struggle with the prolonged shutdown to consider pivoting or outgoing trades.
In addition to the “limited” vacancies, the pilot plan announced by authorities last Friday requires nightclub operators to adhere to COVID-19 security measures and will last only two or three months depending on the type. business, said the association.
READ: Some nightlife businesses allowed to reopen with COVID-19 security measures under the pilot program
The announcement of a pilot program for the reopening of a “small number” of nightlife businesses comes after almost eight months of the closure of some pubs and bars without food licenses, karaoke venues, nightclubs and discos.
These nightlife venues have been unable to reopen even as COVID-19 restrictions have gradually eased since June.
SECURITY MEASURES
Some of the security measures include opening nightclubs and karaoke rooms only to residents and people with work passes, as well as those who have tested for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, SNBA said at a conference of Press Monday to provide more details on the pilot program.
For karaoke rooms, groups of up to five people must be inside the closed rooms to sing. Rooms should be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
SNBA also said nightclubs reopening under the pilot scheme will have a capacity limit of up to 100 people in two zones. Each zone, which can hold 50 people each, can have dining and dancing areas, but they must be kept separate. No shows or live shows will be allowed.
These safety measures are not final and can be refined before the pilots begin, SNBA said in its presentation slides.
“It is important that they understand that the pilots are very limited, very onerous, I would say (since) there are strict requirements to fulfill,” the association’s president, Joseph Ong, told reporters.
As such, the industry association hopes to temper the “buzz” it had seen among industry players eager to reopen their doors.
“There has been a lot of enthusiasm from the pilots and we hope to explain that (they) are just tests,” said Ong, who described the program as “phase one clinical trials” with small sample sizes and long observation periods.
“Therefore, they should not be seen as an alternative for operators to reopen. There is little chance that they will be selected and the trial requires extreme planning and care. “
REOPENING UNDER PILOT SCHEME
SNBA told reporters that the 25 spaces available under the pilot scheme could be allocated to 10 pubs and bars, 10 karaoke establishments and five nightclubs.
The trade association, which has around 320 members, said it will facilitate the application process for pubs, bars and nightclubs together with Singapore River One (SRO).
The applications will be open from Wednesday to Sunday, although he said he is in talks with authorities to extend the deadline until November 23.
Singapore Entertainment Affiliation, representing more than 100 karaoke operators, will collect apps for karaoke establishments, it said.
READ: Lights off, music stops: Pubs still closed, karaoke venues call for help amid COVID-19 pandemic
The final decision on which establishments will be selected for the pilots will be made by authorities, the SNBA added.
According to the MTI and the Ministry of the Interior (MHA), the pilot for pubs and bars will begin in December and will last two months.
Operators will need to ensure that patrons wear masks when singing or on the dance floor, and deploy surveillance cameras in all common areas and rooms.
All customers entering karaoke lounges and nightclubs must have tested negative for COVID-19 24 hours prior to the end of activity at the nightlife establishment.
The pilot for this business group is scheduled to begin in January and will last three months, as operators need more time to prepare. Authorities will also need more time to assess whether it is safe for these “higher risk” locations to reopen.
When asked who is likely to bear the cost of these COVID-19 tests, Mr. Ong replied that night lighting venue operators probably cannot absorb the cost and will have to pass it on to consumers.
“We hope that whoever approaches us with a proposal for the pilot will realize that customers will have … to absorb the cost,” Ong said.
He added that the association has not yet spoken with clinics and medical centers, but will seek to establish such associations to reduce costs.
READ: COVID-19: Singapore to pilot pre-event rapid tests from mid-October so more events can safely resume
PIVOTING OPERATIONS OR EXITING THE INDUSTRY
Last week, authorities announced financial grants for those who will not participate in the pilot program. These are aimed at helping these companies shift into permitted activities, such as food and beverage (F&B), or exit the industry.
Since Friday’s announcement, SNBA, which has been working with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MTI) and Enterprise Singapore in support of the nightlife industry, said it has received around 150 inquiries.
About 40 percent asked about the pilot program, while the rest were split between inquiries about pivot-and-go support measures.
“Pivots and exits are options that are now available to many of the operators out there. If it can’t reopen, this is the best opportunity to pivot … if (you) are facing difficulties, the exit may be the best option, ”said Ong.
SNBA also provided more details on support measures for those who choose to pivot towards F&B.
These companies will be able to get a 12-month temporary conversion and an “expedited” process for a license change to conduct F&B operations.
The process can take up to 14 days, compared to “months” earlier, the association said.
Those who choose to switch to other commercial uses, such as offices or gyms, will be evaluated by the relevant agencies on a case-by-case basis.
READ: With no prospect of reopening, KTV room owners say industry has been ‘abandoned’
Nightlife companies will have until March 31, 2021 to apply for the corresponding subsidies to pivot or go out.
Those interested in pivoting can apply for a grant of up to S $ 50,000 to cover costs incurred during the pivoting process, such as equipment and third-party consulting costs.
For those who choose to exit, they can request an ex gratia payment of S $ 30,000 to defray the costs of leaving the business. They will have until June 30, 2021 to submit completed claim forms, as well as documents showing that they have begun closing the business and waiving all operating licenses.
Businesses will only be eligible for any of the financial support grants, SNBA said.
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