DPM Heng: Next Budget Will Support Social Service Sector & Focus on Digitalisation

Yes, it’s official.

DPM Heng Swee Keat’s next Ministerial Statement is also going to be a budget (read: ang paos).

But not everyone is going to get a piece of the pie, though.

DPM Heng: Next Budget Will Support Social Service Sector & Focus on Digitalisation

We can all agree that with the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent shutdown, social services are needed now, more than ever.

Vulnerable groups of people in Singapore will now find themselves even more vulnerable, while some who used to be barely hanging on the edge might have fallen.

Check out how the South Koreans’ suffered without social services during their outbreak:

DPM Heng took to Facebook to give Singaporeans a sneak peek at what his fourth budget will be like and it seems like it’s focused on the social services sector partners.

Social Service Partners Find Themselves Hampered By Covid-19

On 23 May, DPM Heng met with over 30 social service sector partners (digitally) to find out more about what they need.

For one, the circuit breaker has caused many things to shift online as the authorities tightened interactions on physical interactions.

The partners also have difficulties raising funds during this period.

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DPM Heng acknowledged their passion and dedication to serving throughout the outbreak and promised that the government will “work with the sector” to:

• embrace digitalisation (getting them online, something like Nas Daily’s fund)
• accelerate transformation
• scale-up new capabilities

Businesses Who Continues To Be Shut Might Get Help

Previously, Mr Lawrence Wong, in a press conference, said that DPM Heng’s fourth budget will be about financial assistance.

Specifically for businesses who have to remain shut in Phase 1 of Singapore’s reopening plan.

DPM Heng also assured businesses and workers in a Facebook post on 19 May, saying that he understands their disappointment and promises to support them to tide over this period of “continued closure”.

He had added that they are learning from the case study of other countries which are experiencing the consequences of opening up too quickly.

Here’s a really beautiful infographic done up by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) showing which businesses are allowed to reopen:

As of right now, everyone is keeping mum about the details of the ministerial statement (aka budget).

But that’s okay because tomorrow (26 May) at 3.30pm, DPM Heng Swee Keat will be delivering it in Parliament.

You can tune in to the live coverage on TV or radio.

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