If the situation improves soon, restrictions on home-based businesses (HBB) might be eased to allow them to resume operations in time for Hari Raya orders, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli on Wednesday (29 April).
In a Facebook post, Mr Masagos acknowledged the challenges many home-based food businesses are facing under the tightened circuit breaker measures which are scheduled to last until 1 June.
He said, “I understand their frustration, especially for many Malay/Muslim HBBfs this Ramadan and Hari Raya period, as they will have received many orders and their seasonal incomes would have been hit.”
The Minister then thank those who have come together to ‘calm the situation’ and help these business operators, adding that he is happy to know that many of these business owners themselves understand the rationale and the need for “these painful measures.”
“They accept they have to tide through this period like everybody else…This is what we need – cooperation and understanding.“
Mr Masagos said that cooperation and understanding “greatly facilitates” the work of enforcement officers during this time, allowing them to focus on the minority of people who do not comply or defy safe distancing measures.
He warned, “This minority is the weakest link that can put the sacrifice of the many who have been complying at risk. With everyone’s understanding and cooperation, our comprehensive efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 will not be in vain.”
He added, “Saving lives and keeping our people safe, including HBBf operators, remains our utmost priority.”
Mr Masagos then noted that the Government has been helping home-based food businesses on three fronts, starting with addressing their financial situation.
“My colleague Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim has reached out to HBBs to see how they can best benefit from the various assistance schemes, such as the Temporary Relief Fund (TRF).“
He also thanked the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SMCCI) for reaching out to operators, noting that Senior Parliamentary Secretary Faishal Ibrahim and the Ministry of Social and Family Development will automatically quality those operators registered with SMCCI for the relief fund.
Next, he assured home-based food businesses owners that they are legally protected under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act which provides free legal support to these owners who are now unable to fulfil their obligations. Lawyer have volunteers to provide free legal advice in the event that business owners are unable to reach a reasonable compromise with clients.
The third aspect is on forming a better understanding of the impact of these measures on the income of business owners as well as to figure out how they can be better supported now and in the long run.
Mr Masagos said in his post, “This could be in the form of supporting them in logistics and delivery, and training them for business management. SMCCI will work with ESG how they can support this sector and make them more resilient.
He went on to express his hope that the situation would improve soon so that home-based business owners can resume operations “ while adhering to safe distancing measures”.
He added, “As my colleague, Minister Lawrence Wong has shared, the restrictions on HBBs may be eased if the community transmission numbers are brought down. If we all cooperate and stay calm, it will be in time for the Hari Raya orders.”
The first and second day of Hari Raya this year falls on 24 and 25 May, exactly a week before the tightened circuit breaker period is due to end.
Irresponsible to pressure Government to make exceptions for HBBs during circuit breaker: Masagos
Now, this latest message from Mr Masagos is a clear u-turn from his earlier stance just a few days ago when he slammed people who were pressuring the Government to make exceptions for HBB operators during the tightened circuit breaker period.
In the wake of a petition urging authorities to reconsider their handling of home-based businesses (HBBs) under the circuit breaker regulations, Mr Masagos criticised those who he claimed are “trying to incite” such businesses to “pressure the Government to make exceptions” for such businesses.
In a Facebook post on Monday (27 April), the minister had branded the move “irresponsible”, saying that such action only serves to rub “more salt” into the “wounds” of HBBs they are “purportedly fighting for”.
This is because “they know the Government cannot make exceptions to any sector affected in the TCB period”, he said.
Urging the Government to allow HBBs to continue operating during the circuit breaker period, according to Mr Masagos, shows that the people calling for such a measure “do not care for the safety of our HBB operators nor our community”.
“If the HBB operators continue their business as usual, they run the risk of being infected or becoming a cluster of COVID-19 cases — more so near Raya, when orders pile up,” he added.
He then called for people to be patient and to “not let our sacrifices be in vain because of the interests of a few”.
