The Covid-19 pandemic and CB measures meant different things to different people.
For some, it’s an extended holiday.
For a few individuals, it’s a chance to let loose at poor frontline staff.
But here’s what the authorities do not want this period to mean:
An excuse to not pay your staff salaries.
Some Companies Haven’t Been Paying Salaries; MOM to Investigate Complaints By Employees
In a video uploaded to YouTube, CNA reported that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) received complaints that some companies are not paying their staff salaries during the Circuit Breaker.
MOM is calling for all employers to treat their staff responsibly and fairly and promises to investigate complaints received from affected employees.
During the time of the investigation, wage support for companies involved might be suspended until investigations have completed.
Hefty Penalties For Companies Found To Have Treated Workers Unfairly
For companies who are found to have treated workers unfairly, they will receive lower wage support in subsequent payouts.
Their wage support or foreign worker levy rebate, which was introduced to help companies retain workers, might also be suspended.
But that’s not all.
Unfair employers could also be denied future employment support and have their work pass privileges limited.
In short, it’s not worth it lah.
Government Has Been Urging Employers To Keep A “Long-Run” View
Since earlier this year, companies have been seeing a drop in their revenues.
The government has been urging employers to look at the long-run instead of the short-run.
Upskill your workers, they said, train them and retain them so that once the Covid-19 pandemic passes over, you’re able to hit the ground running.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has also said that they are increasing the Job Support Scheme to 75% across all industries for the first $4,600 of every Singaporean employee for the month of April and May.
When companies send their employees to upskill, they’re also able to take advantage of the absentee payroll subsidies.
The subsidies will pay the company up to 95% of their employee’s hourly basic salary when their employees are sent for training.
The catch is, of course, that the employee must still receive their full salary when they’re on course.
Here’s an article on the various help you might be able to get if you’re facing financial problems due to Covid-19.
