Wary analysts await Monday rescue plan, but warn of deeper recession risks

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THE new set of moves to curb the deadly rampage of Covid-19 might deepen the dent in the Singapore economy, economists have warned, as they fret over the downside to their already-sober recession forecasts. Read more at The Business Times.

But a key concern is the impact on the labour market, with analysts stressing that efforts to save jobs must be ramped up, as the contagion spreads from tourism-related sectors and infects the rest of the economy.

"By keeping them open, they can still add to growth, although we may not see them offsetting the drag from slower demand in general," CIMB economist Song Seng Wun told BT. With the latest measures, Dr Chua now believes retrenchments could spike to as high as 80,000 this year -"far exceeding what was seen during the Asian or global financial crisis".

Economists are thus counting on Mr Heng to unleash even stronger wage subsidies next week, shortly after he bumped up government co-funding to at least 25 per cent of residents' salaries, from 8 per cent before. "It could be a case of broadening the upper threshold of 75 per cent to all industries, for instance," added Mr Song."It's essentially about, as I say, drawing a line in the sand - providing a back-stop to local employment."

 

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