Clarification by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance
Ministry of FinanceSpeakers
Summary
This clarification concerns a factual correction made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat regarding data on the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS). Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat rectified his previous statement by clarifying that $10.5 billion, not $15.5 billion, of JSS payouts went to SMEs. The total amount disbursed remains over $16 billion to more than 150,000 employers, supporting the wages of over two million local workers. It was confirmed that SMEs still account for 73% of the local workers supported by the scheme despite the corrected disbursement figure. This statement was formally circulated to amend the oral reply provided during Question Time at the Sitting on 4 September 2020.
Transcript
The following statements were in the reply given by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (Mr Heng Swee Keat) during Question Time for the Parliamentary Question "Data on Employees who have been Supported by Jobs Support Scheme" at the Sitting on 4 September 2020:
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (Mr Heng Swee Keat): Since the introduction of the Jobs Support Scheme or JSS at the Unity Budget in February, over $16 billion of payouts have been disbursed to more than 150,000 employers. This has helped to support the wages of over two million local workers. $15.5 billion of the JSS payouts went to SMEs. This accounts for 73% of the local workers supported by the JSS. [Please refer to "Data on Employees who have been Supported by Jobs Support Scheme", Official Report, 4 September 2020, Vol 95, Issue No 6, Oral Answers to Questions section.]
Written statement by Mr Heng Swee Keat circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29 (5):
I wish to make the following factual correction to the reply given during Question Time for the Parliamentary Question "Data on Employees who have been Supported by Jobs Support Scheme" at the Sitting on 4 September 2020. My reply should read as follows:
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (Mr Heng Swee Keat): Since the introduction of the Jobs Support Scheme or JSS at the Unity Budget in February, over $16 billion of payouts have been disbursed to more than 150,000 employers. This has helped to support the wages of over two million local workers. $10.5 billion of the JSS payouts went to SMEs. This accounts for 73% of the local workers supported by the JSS.