by Lim Qiu Ping
WHAT are Singaporeans looking for in this year’s Budget?
A 90-minute “Live” Q&A session, through Facebook, was held yesterday (Jan 4) at 8pm to find out. Organised by Reach, the G’s official feedback portal, the event was chaired by Mr Liang Eng Hwa, Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Finance and Trade and Industry, as well as Reach Supervisory Panel member Ms Foo Mee Har, a member of the same GPC.
The Facebook conversation covered three pre-arranged topics, with a fourth introduced in the final 13 minutes. These topics are, in the following order: supporting our families; transforming business to thrive in a competitive and digital world; enhancing workers’ skills and capabilities; building an inclusive society where people help one another.
There were 24 Facebook participants involved – including Reach, Mr Liang and Ms Foo – who provided a total of 46 comments (not counting the replies in the threads). The topic, which generated the most responses, is the one on how to transform businesses, creating a total of 40 replies.
Under this topic, three main areas of concern emerged.
First, about accessibility of grants for business to stay afloat or expand, with particular attention paid to the needs of the SMEs. Second, on what is necessary to create an ecosystem where entrepreneurship could thrive. Third, raising solutions to structural difficulties and unemployment, with particular worry for older workers amidst a consensus that local and overseas businesses are either already or getting digitalised.
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The next most popular topic was that of upgrading workers’ skills, which generated 21 replies. There was some debate on how effective skills upgrading programmes have been in helping people, especially older workers, find jobs. Time constraint was also a factor inhibiting the drive to acquire new skills, as pointed out by Facebook user Faizal Mohd.
In contrast, topics regarding developing an inclusive society and supporting families attracted 18 and 15 replies respectively. Input from participants included receiving childcare support in terms of time-offs and subsidies or rebates, as well as how to better inculcate volunteerism in Singaporeans, especially from young onwards. One Facebook user, Teo Lay Yan, gave an insight on looking beyond the handicapped when identifying those more needful of help.
Both Mr Liang and Ms Foo provided solutions when they were able to – such as in the case when Facebook user, Shabil Ali, raised the problem of increasing business costs and the toll it is taking on the SMEs. Mr Liang replied that there are a few assistance schemes in place, citing wage credit as well as those offered by the government agency Spring Singapore: ICV (Innovation & Capability Voucher), CDG (Capability Development Grant) and TAP (Technology Adoption Programme).
Ms Foo agreed with Facebook user, Alan Yeap, that mentorship is needed to encourage expansion of businesses. She directed the user to an International Enterprise (IE) Singapore webpage, where relevant data and tips can be received for the purpose of business expansion into overseas markets.
Otherwise, Mr Liang and Ms Foo accepted and expressed thanks for some of the recommendations made. In a few cases, Ms Foo said they would convey the feedback to the relevant agencies. The two chairing GPC members were most active on the topics pertaining to transforming businesses and workers’ skills.
This is the second time Reach has organised a pre-Budget “Live” Q&A session on Facebook. The one last year, also 90 minutes long, was held at noon. The top topic then was about the SkillsFuture scheme and how its details could be better disseminated to the public.
It also attracted 20 participants altogether and 37 comments, 34 likes and five shares. Not only was this year’s discussion busier with more participants and comments, it garnered 48 likes and six shares.
The Facebook “Live” session was the latest in a number of outreach attempts by the G to feel the pulse of everyday Singaporeans when it comes to what they would like to see in the upcoming Budget. Since Dec 5 of last year till next Friday (Jan 13), members of the public have been and are still able to offer their suggestions for Budget 2017 through eight feedback channels opened by the Ministry of Finance.
These include the Singapore Budget Website, the Reach Budget microsite and Reach’s discussion forum.
During this period, Reach has also set up eight pre-Budget 2017 Listening Points islandwide, on various dates and times, where Singaporeans could give their opinions in person. This is an increase from three last year. The final Listening Point will happen this Saturday (Jan 8), 7.30am to 11am at Block 681, Hougang Avenue 8, Hougang Hawker Centre.
All public feedback will be taken into consideration for the design of Budget 2017, due to be announced on Feb 20 in parliament.
Significantly, a survey report released by the Singapore Business Federation on Dec 28 last year showed that most companies, especially the SMEs, did not find Budget 2016 helpful in dealing with immediate difficulties under the current more pessimistic economic climate. In the report, the proposed focus for Budget 2017 was to “look at measures to assist businesses with manpower issues as well as lower government compliance costs, fees and taxes”.
Featured image Numbers and Finance by Flickr user Ken Teegardin. (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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The post Budget 2017: Let’s help SMEs, older workers, and one another appeared first on The Middle Ground.