Self-seeking behaviour can undermine well-intended measures as COVID-19 shows, says Eugene K B Tan.
SINGAPORE: At one level, the unprecedented three-in-one Unity, Resilience, and Solidarity Budgets demonstrate the resolve of Singapore to ensure businesses and households are helped amid the public health concerns and the economic fallout of the Covid-19 global pandemic.
In Parliament on Thursday , Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat lays out the Resilience Budget to help Singapore tide over the COVID-19 pandemic. He said, “… both sides must see each other as long-term partners. Both sides cannot take a short-term perspective in this. The spirit must be that in good times we share the benefits, in tough times, we share the pain. If both the landlord and tenant can work together then we are much nearer to a solution”.
It will also prohibit landlords from imposing conditions on their tenants when passing on the property tax rebates. Property owners who fail to fully pass on property tax rebates unconditionally to their tenants"without reasonable excuse" will be guilty of an offence. Legislation can however be a blunt tool as the law sets only the minimum standard of behaviour expected.As legislative fiats are not completely effective in inculcating desired norms and behaviour and preventing opportunistic behaviour, the challenge going forward is to better engender cooperation among stakeholders in such challenging times.
Despite various reminders by the Government, it had to enact legislation on Apr 1 to compel employers to implement telecommuting.
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