Job Supports Scheme enhanced for Phase 2 Heightened Alert

Support will now be offered to those working in the retail, arts, and sports and fitness sectors, including the self-employed.

The government enhanced its support measures for businesses and individuals for the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) (P2(HA)) period, for an approximate $800m.

In a press statement, the Ministry of Finance announced that it would increase its support for the food and beverage businesses covered by the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) to 50%, from the previous 10%, and will provide one-month rental relief for hawker stalls and coffee shops on government-owned premises during the P2(HA) period.

The government will also fully subsidise the fees for table-cleaning and centralised dishqashing services for approximately 6,000 stallholders in hawker centres managed by the National Envirionment Agency (NEA) during the no dine-in period.

Arts groups will be able to receive support through the Arts and Culture Resilience Package by the Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth.

The Sports Resilience Package has been enhanced to provide operating grants to affected gyms and fitness studios during P2(HA).

Affected sectors from 16 May to 13 June will benefit from the enhanced JSS, which includes wage support for the first $4,600 gross monthly wages paid to local employees.

Sectors that are required to suspend many to all of its operations will have an enhanced JSS support of 50%, inlcuding gyms, fitness studios, performing arts organisations and arts education sectors.

For those sectors that are not required to suspend operations but are significantly affected by the tightened measures, such as the retail sector, personal care services, museums, art galleries, historical sites, cinemas, indoor playgrounds, family entertainment centers and the like will get a 30% enhanced JSS. Supermarkets, convenience stores and online retailers are not a part of this group.

The enhanced payout, based on wages paid from April to June 2021, will be disbursed in September.

Rental support for SMEs and eligible NPOs who are tenant-occupiers of qualifying commercial properties will be provided if their annual revenue does not exceed $100m.

A one month rental relief will be provided for qualifying tenants in government-owned commercial properties.

A one-off support for self-employed, and lower-to-middle-income employees will be provided, if they have experienced an income loss of at least 50% for at least one month from May 16 to June 30. This will range from $500 to $700, with more details to come from the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

Read more about these measures here.