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Singapore SMEs Continue to Grow Despite Economic Mishaps (August 2022) How it happens?

By Umair Qureshi

Posted on August 18, 2022

Singapore SMEs Continue to Grow Despite Economic Mishaps: Based on late information, Singapore’s stretch with Covid-19 and the continuous expansion brought about by the Ukraine-Russia struggle did barely anything to prevent development for little and medium-sized undertakings (SMEs) in the second quarter of 2022. The fast monetary recuperation can be credited to the proactive strategy, an administration award for SME, and a successful reaction.

The economy of Singapore continues to grow, and small and medium-sized enterprises are driving the growth. In fact, SMEs account for 99% of enterprises, and employ 65% of the country’s workforce. The recent Job Support Scheme is an effort to help SMEs weather the storm created by Covid-19, and the Wage Credit Scheme has been enhanced to further support salary hikes for local employees. But while the economy continues to flourish, the skills shortage in Singapore is a serious hindrance to a business’s growth.

Job Support Scheme aims to ensure SMEs weather the Covid-19 storm

The government has introduced measures to help its most valuable sector weather the Covid-19 storm. The Job Support Scheme, for example, aims to help Singapore SMEs weather the storm by co-funding as much as 25 percent of their first S$4,600 gross monthly wage. This relief measure was introduced in the wake of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected Singapore’s economy and workers’ incomes.

The Government has reacted to the situation by extending the second package of measures, which came into effect on January 1st, 2021. The new package of measures aims to help Singapore SMEs weather the storm, and has extended a number of support measures for both businesses and households. It has also improved the conditions for these measures and made them more suitable to the current health situation.

The JSS has been extended for another month, to cover August 2020 wages. The Government has also increased the amount of support provided for businesses to increase their profits. As of November 3, the first guarantee scheme has been adopted by 59 percent of businesses, while the second scheme has been adopted by 42 percent of companies. This brings the total amount of financial support to the Government to $92.9 billion, or 19.2 percent of Singapore’s GDP. The scheme has also been extended to help businesses weather the Covid-19 storm.

While the Covid-19 crisis has been devastating on many fronts, it has largely been the small businesses that have been hit the hardest. Almost 60 million people in the United States alone work for businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Almost one-quarter of all such businesses are in the retail, accommodation, and food services sectors. As such, they are likely to lay off workers as the demand for their services and products decreases. Small businesses are often unprofitable and cannot be remotely performed, and lack cash reserves.

In the recent past, the government has taken steps to help SMEs become more competitive by supporting them through the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG). The Enterprise Development Grant helps small businesses to start or expand. Businesses will receive funding up to 80 percent of their eligible costs. A further government initiative is the Startup SG Equity Scheme, which provides SMEs with up to S$8 million in capital through partnerships with third parties. The program has a particular focus on the pharma/biotech/medtech, and agri-food technology sectors.

The Government has also introduced additional funding for the health sector. The total amount of additional funding allocated to the health sector is Lek 2.5 billion. The job support scheme also aims to ensure Singapore SMEs weather the Covid-19 storm. In the meantime, the government has rolled out various initiatives aimed at helping SMEs weather the storm. The Government is ensuring that it will continue to make these efforts.

All industry areas are in expansionary region, with four emerging from compression: food and refreshment (F&B), building and development, training, and retail.

The general list came in at a perusing of 52, up from 50.5 in the earlier quarter and checking six progressive quarters of development. Fifty or more demonstrates upgraded movement, while one under 50 signals a decay comparative with a similar period a year prior.

Q3 2022 is supposed to remain expansionary as worldwide recuperation continues notwithstanding expanded supply-side difficulties and inflationary tensions in Singapore.

Assortments expanded with better execution across most enterprises. The quarter’s GDP (GDP) Nowcast gauges GDP development by means of the list – was 5.8 percent, contrasted with 3.7 percent development enrolled in Q1 2022.

The most recent Nowcast is thought of “directionally adjusted” with the lift in the agreement conjecture of 4.8 percent in the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s study for proficient examiners in June.

Discount exchange, coordinated factors, transport, and assembling held development on account of the accessibility of government awards for SMEs and solid cross-line exchange. Transport and operations proceeded with development, drove by a consistently solid appearance in the coordinated factors sub-area. Ocean and land transport saw likewise got over the quarter, halfway on account of sound cross-line exchange, while land transport became expansionary.

Fabricating likewise got in the past quarter, with a 14 percent increment in yearly assortments brought about by purchaser items. The creative sub-area likewise enrolled a solid 12 percent expansion in yearly assortments.

The hardware and semiconductors sub-area dropped into the contractionary domain yet is projected to work on in the year’s final part.

Because of the kickoff of movement lines and facilitating eat in limitations, F&B and business administrations benefited immensely. Contrasted with the past quarter, the F&B business arose out of compression, as the decrease of safe removing measures was fulfilled with obliged need from bigger eating occasions and more grounded guest traffic.

The helped energy in digitalization drove development in data and correspondences innovation (ICT).

Schooling pushed out of compression from the past quarter thanks to a get in youth training and diversion classes, with the facilitating of Covid limitations and a superior extent of guardians getting back to office work. Preparing focuses are supposed to get force in the approaching quarters as unfamiliar work resumes with the returning of lines.

Assuming you are a SME entrepreneur and require extra cash-flow to recuperate or subsidize development, Singapore’s administration award for SMEs through financial establishments will help. A lot of awards, endowments, and monetary help programs are at present accessible. With customized choices, you’ll clearly track down one that meets your requirements.

Wage Credit Scheme has been enhanced to further support salary increases for local employees

The Wage Credit Scheme (JCS) is an incentive program for local SMEs to improve their pay packets by providing a co-funded portion of the increased wages for eligible local employees. The scheme is available to employers for up to S$5,000 in salary increases for Singaporean employees. The co-funding will be extended by six months. For employees earning S$2,500 to S$3,000, the government will provide up to 25% support of the increase.

The Government will also increase its co-funding share for the progressive wage credit scheme to further support local employees’ salaries. This is part of a S$1.5 billion package of measures to boost local business productivity. The Progressive Wage Credit Scheme is a government-backed incentive scheme that provides transitional wage support for employers. The scheme supports wage increases for local employees earning up to S$3,000 per month. The new scheme will be extended to all employees in Singapore, including permanent residents.

This initiative is aimed at supporting local employers who are expanding their hiring plans and provide high-quality jobs for local workers. It consists of three phases: phase one, two, and three. In phase three, from October 2021 to March 2022, the government will pay a certain percentage of an employee’s gross monthly wage for the first six months. The scheme also covers local hires aged 40 and above, ex-offenders, and persons with disabilities.

The Wage Credit Scheme has been enhanced to further increase salary levels for local employees of Singapore SMEs. Employers don’t have to apply for this scheme, as the Inland Revenue Authority will inform them of any payout. This scheme also provides a tax exemption on the first S$100K of ordinary chargeable income after the first $100,000. The benefits are many, and the program is also designed to be user-friendly.

With the increase in CPF contribution rates for Singaporean workers, the government is helping employers offset their costs by offering a 50% offset. This offset will be available to both Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. The offset can be used by businesses to improve in-house training programmes, certify workplace trainers, and provide customised solutions. The offset can be used for many purposes, such as increasing salaries in mid-career and retiring employees.

The Wage Credit Scheme has also been further enhanced to support local employees of Singapore SMEs. The second package will be available until 2021. However, there are several conditions for accessing the second package. These include additional purposes for guaranteed loans, such as leasing operations, corporate contributions to job retention schemes, and fuel expenses. In addition, the government has extended the maturity date for loans for 2020 by six months, beginning from the contract maturity date.

Skills shortage hampers the operation of a Singapore-based business

The skills shortage in Singapore is a major issue, with an estimated 1.2 million people needed in the country by 2025. The shortage is made worse by the rapid growth of digital business in Singapore and a lack of local graduates with digital skills. In addition to the skills shortage, the country faces rising labour costs and an inability to recruit international talent. The trade and industry minister recently said that Singapore would remain an open society to international talent, and the government has committed to attracting and retaining local talents.

A skills shortage can hamper the operation of a business by preventing companies from recruiting the right talent. This can lead to hiring ill-suited candidates, forgoing production opportunities, lagging productivity growth, and a host of other problems. In addition to these problems, the lack of skills can also put a company at a competitive disadvantage. Some of the top barriers to hiring include lack of qualifications, low replies to job vacancies, and high wages.

In a recent report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 27% of Australian businesses had difficulty hiring foreign workers. Of these, 74% cited a lack of applicants. Another three percent cited the closure of the border to prevent workers from relocating. Some of the strain is temporary, however, as migrant workers may return to magnets like Singapore once the vaccination rates improve. Similarly, higher-skilled workers may postpone their move until the vaccination rate improves.

With the shortage of foreign workers, companies in Singapore are making adjustments to their employee benefits such as bonuses, mental health support, and flexible working policies to attract foreign talent. One former employee said that his company increased his salary by 40% – without requiring him to get promoted. While this is not a permanent solution, it is certainly one way to combat the talent shortage in Singapore. The skills shortage is a serious issue, and HR functions need to prepare themselves for the future.

Skill shortages can be very challenging, but if planned well, they can be tackled. There are several effective strategies that a company can take to deal with this problem. First, the company must implement a well-planned recruitment and selection process. Once the skills are identified, the next step is to retain the employees who are skilled and experienced. Then, it will be easier to attract and retain top-notch talent.

Another way to mitigate the skills shortage is to make a truly inclusive workplace environment. This means that employees must feel comfortable being themselves in the office. The boss should also be sensitive to the fact that some staff may not feel comfortable disclosing personal details with the rest of the staff. A truly inclusive environment is the best way to foster a positive work culture for your employees. Despite the growing challenges, employers must make sure to create an environment where staff can be themselves.

Taking into account government awards?

Business visionaries are likewise urged to consider SME awards Singapore offers through bank help. Accessible awards incorporate COVID-19 Relief Loans, SME Fixed Assets Financing, Merger and Acquisition, Venture Debt Loan, Enterprise Financing Scheme Trade Loan (EFS-TL), and Project Loan.