SINGAPORE - Despite the utmost efforts to keep companies afloat to preserve jobs, some people may still find themselves out of work, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat on Saturday (June 20) as he declared that the Government's most urgent task now remains to protect people's livelihoods and create as many jobs as possible.

The aim is not just to create jobs, but generate better jobs for Singaporeans, he added, as he outlined three ways to support businesses and workers and re-imagine the economy.

Speaking in the last of the series of six national broadcasts by ministers on Singapore's future after Covid-19, DPM Heng said: "Our most urgent task now is jobs. Your job is our top priority. Because jobs are the most direct way for every Singaporean to improve our lives and support our loved ones."

To do so, it will try to preserve current jobs by helping viable businesses to stay afloat, so they can hold on to their workers for as long as possible, he said.

Those workers hardest hit by the pandemic, including people who are self-employed and low wage workers, will also be given support, and employers and unions will also be roped in to boost these efforts.

Mr Heng warned, though, that even then, job losses cannot be avoided, and some, and perhaps even many, will still lose their rice bowls.

.. Read more at The Straits Times here!

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