[ad_1]
SINGAPORE – Freelancers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic can see an extension of the income relief plan to help them get through this period of economic uncertainty.
Human Resources Minister Josephine Teo said in Parliament on Friday (September 4) that her ministry will study the possibility of expanding the Income Relief Plan for Self Employed Workers (Sres) with the Ministry of Finance.
He noted that Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat already said last month that the government is studying how to help the most vulnerable workers and the self-employed beyond existing plans.
She was responding to People’s Action Party MP Cheng Li Hui (Tampines GRC) and Workers Party MP Dennis Tan (Hougang) on whether Sirs will expand in light of the poor economic outlook.
Mr. Tan said that with the expanded Covid-19 support grant, he has received feedback that Sirs could be extended by at least one lower pay tier as many freelancers are still struggling financially.
The plan, which was announced by DPM Heng in the Resilience Budget in March, provides eligible freelancers with $ 9,000 in cash for nine months.
On Friday, Ms. Cheng also asked how much money has been released under the gentlemen so far and the reasons for rejecting appeals under the scheme.
Ms. Teo responded that about 190,000 people have received the first two payments of $ 3,000 each in May and July, with the last payment due in October.
Of this number, 100,000 automatically qualified for the plan, while the remaining 90,000 qualified by application.
He added that the profile of Sirs recipients reflects the profile of the self-employed in Singapore, with a large number of taxi and other rental drivers and private street vendors.
So far, more than $ 1.1 billion has been released in the first two payments, and with the final payment in October, Sirs is expected to cost the government $ 2 billion in total, Ms Teo said.
“This is a significant expansion of an already considerable program,” he added.
An initial amount of $ 1.2 billion was reserved for the scheme when it was first announced.
Ms Teo said that income eligibility for the plan has covered more than four out of five Singaporeans with taxable income, and about nine out of 10 of those living on public and private property they own. The spouse’s income is also considered in an applicant’s eligibility.
Of the total applications received, about two out of three have been approved, said Ms Teo, adding that flexibility has been exercised in the qualification criteria for gentlemen in order to support more freelancers.
The remaining applications were rejected because the applicants were earning much higher incomes, resided in high-value properties, or owned two or more properties with their spouses, it added.
“As Sirs was intended to support (the self-employed), people who were previously unemployed or had a regular job were redirected to the Covid-19 Support Grant,” Ms Teo said.
“Where there were other areas of need, we have referred unsuccessful applicants to the appropriate agencies for follow-up assistance.”
[ad_2]
