General

How Can Singaporean Companies Thrive Despite The Covid-19 Crisis?

Nora Setiawan

July 24, 2020

General

How Can Singaporean Companies Thrive Despite The Covid-19 Crisis?

Nora Setiawan

July 24, 2020

The Covid-19 crisis is definitely dragging the global economy down, including Singapore. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) falls between 4% and 7% in 2020, and it had previously projected a contraction of between 1% and 4%.

Singapore faces its sharpest contraction since independence after the city-state warned that its economy could shrink by 7% in the midst of the pandemic. Moreover, there are 32.343 cases in Singapore, and it is one of the highest rates on a per capita basis in Asia.

The dormitory residents accounted for more than 90% of total infections. It’s because of the poor living conditions of Singapore’s migrant worker population, who reside in crowded dormitories where the largest cluster of cases has been found.

Authorities have warned the public to stay at home and avoid meeting with individuals outside their households. People have been told to only go out for essential things, to buy food or take away meals, or exercise in parks at a safe distance.

The Covid-19 has given an impact on Singapore’s economy, and it narrowed 2.2% in the first quarter of 2020, if it’s compared to the same quarter last year. According to the Trade and Industry Ministry, the country’s economy contracted sharply 10.6% due to the effects of the coronavirus in all sectors.

Singapore’s retail sales crashed by 40.5% in April from a year ago, while motor vehicle sales also remained the weakest area with a 68% year-on-year plunge. Among other big slumps were watches and jewellery (-81%), clothing (-75%), department stores (-75%), and recreational goods (-55%).

Additionally, weak consumer spending is predicted for the rest of the year, even when the economy is gradually reopening. Based on the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) data in April 2020, for the first quarter, overall unemployment increased from 2.3% to 2.4%. Retrenchments also rose to 3.000 from 2.670 from the previous quarter.

Despite the economic fallout, Singapore companies still have some opportunities to thrive and survive the crisis. The companies have some options to keep their businesses run and bear with the situation.


How Do They Thrive In The Midst of The Covid-19?

On 19 May 2020, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) announced that businesses will be allowed to resume activities in a phased manner, as Singapore moves to gradually easy Circuit Breaker measures. It means the companies have chances to operate and gain profits again.

Meanwhile, the Singaporean government offers S$4 billion Stabilisation and Support Package. They divide the package into 3 schemes:

  1. A job support scheme (S$1.3 billion) whereby the government pays 8% of the wages of local workers for 3 months, up to a S$3.600 monthly cap, and Singapore has 1.9 million local workers.
  2. A care and support package (S$1.6 billion) whereby the government provides one-off cash payments of between S$100 and S$300 to every Singaporean aged 21 or higher, thus helping households settle the cost of living.
  3. A wage credit scheme (S$1.1 billion) whereby the government co-funds approximately wage increases 30% for Singaporean employees, up to a S$5.000 gross monthly wage.

The government also gives a corporate income tax rebate up to 25% of the total tax payable in 2020. Also, in the aviation sector, which rebates on aircraft landing and parking charges, assistance to ground handling agents, and rental rebates for shops and cargo agents at Changi Airport. There will be a 15% Property tax rebate for Changi Airport too.

READ MORE: Singapore: Why Is It a Great Place For You To Expand Business?

Another sector is also given help by the government. For instance, in the tourism sector, Singapore Tourism Board announced that license fees for hotels, travel agents and tour guides will be waived as part of measures to help the sector. Up to 50% of third-party professional cleaning fees will be covered, with a cap of $20.000 per hotel with confirmed cases, and a cap of $10.000 per hotel with suspected cases.

In addition, there is a way to improve internal response and mitigation measures. There are 5 key steps to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 outbreak on your business, so you can survive during the pandemic!

1. Refresh Business Continuity and Crisis Management Plan

You need to understand the situation and plan for the impact on local and international market operations, supply chains, cash flow and workforce. Use data and analytics to make the right decisions, then develop the plans needed to recover efficiently and effectively. It includes program assessment, implementation, testing, maintenance, and training.

2. Optimise People and Organisation Management

Businesses that have a presence in affected areas must review plans to keep their people and working environment safe. Prepare the working environment with up to date hygiene advice, visitor policies, and consider total building closure protocols, if social distancing is required. If your business is slowed due to coronavirus, it actually could be an opportunity to upskill your people and build long term relationships with them.

3. Ensure Agile, Aligned and Effective Communication and Stakeholder Management

Ensure you have plans to communicate with your people, manage customer expectations and work with suppliers to keep them up to date with the evolving situation and what could come next. 

4. Review Your Digital Transformation Strategy

This crisis is actually testing your digital transformation strategy, and you can take this time as a chance to identify gaps that need to be plugged. Your digital readiness across technologies, processes, people will come to the fore and you may need to start re-working on some of the key building blocks of your digital strategy, including data and analytics, cybersecurity, digital trust and transformation.

5. Be Open to Collaborations with Government Agencies in Managing Crisis

Compliance with all government directives for the prosperity of the society is a must. Tough times like this are drivers of change and must work together to create value for the large society.

The companies clearly have some opportunities to thrive in the midst of the crisis. However, you cannot depend only on the government’s support, yet you need to hold down the outbreak impact on your business by preparing things. After all, you could manage your business and it will thrive and survive during the crisis.

In conclusion, this article gives you information about Singapore’s economic situation during the pandemic, yet the companies still have opportunity to thrive, and lastly there are 5 key steps to survive despite the crisis.

Related posts

Doing Business

Public Holidays in ASEAN countries (Part 3 – Singapore)

Singapore is a melting pot of diverse cultures with a socio-cultural fabric of Chinese, Malaysian, Indian, among others. This distinct yet harmonious blend of various ...
Read more
Doing Business

Vietnam’s Edtech Industry Outlook for 2023 and Beyond

Being one of the most sought-after investment destinations, Vietnam is equally popular for growing opportunities in the education sector. In the last few decades, education ...
Read more
FDI

How is Singapore as a Trade & Logistic hub for ASEAN Traders?

Singapore has become a major trading and financial hub. It also has the infrastructure and expertise that Chinese corporates need to access other ASEAN markets. ...
Read more
General

Tech Industry Trend in Singapore After Covid-19

It’s been 9 months since Singapore’s first COVID-19 case, and the economy starts to show signs of a slow recovery. The businesses are now re-opening ...
Read more

Download our Latest Ebook about Real Estate and Property!

Real estate holds a pivotal position in the development of a country, not only via the spillover impacts on other economic sectors such as construction, manufacturing, tourism, finance and banking etc. but also affecting the social dynamic by mobilizing the residency and infrastructure system. Foreign direct investment in real estate (RFDI) in Vietnam has a long running history and is unique in that it is largely dominated by the private sector compared to other industries which usually still have a rather large Government involvement. International capital has consistently been selecting real estate as the destination of choice, given that RDI has always been in the top 2 and 3 for volume inflow over the last 10 years, even throughout extremely turbulent periods such as COVID-19, per the General Statistics Office of Vietnam’s (GSO) data. Find out more in this ebook edition.

Tải cuốn ebook mới nhất về nền kinh tế số Việt Nam!

The digital economy of Vietnam has been fueled and accelerated by the global digital trends and the pandemic Covid-19. The movement of digital transformation is underway in every corner of Vietnamese life, strongly influencing the way people do things. Digital economy is the future of the Vietnam economy. Realizing the potential of the digital economy, the Vietnam government has issued policies, guidelines and created legal frameworks to support and further enhance this economy. In this ebook edition, the digital economy is looked at from different angles. Perspectives from the key elements comprising Vietnam digital economy are examined and discovered.

Our Happy Clients