Mr Masagos Zulkifli, the discipline master of Singapore has spoken again.
But this time, he’s not speaking about the number of people who were fined yesterday.
Instead, he’s hitting back at people who “incited” Singaporeans to go against the government.
Here’s A Brief Recap Of What Happened
Just a few days ago, it was clarified that home-based businesses who do not fulfil the 3 conditions below cannot continue to operate:
- The business must operate solely online and employees or the boss do not have to leave their homes
- The business does not require customers to self-collect or a third-party service to deliver
- Employees and staff are able to work from home
Even Carousell sellers and Facebook Live Auctions are affected by the rules.
Any business who’s found to have flouted the rules will be fined $1,000 for the first offence, and even harsher penalties if caught again.
While all home-based businesses are included in the ruling, it’s the home-based F&B businesses that are in the limelight because it’s Ramadan month and it’s a busy period for them.
Many home-based businesses who depend on this period to make some money find their livelihoods destroyed almost overnight.
They had to refund orders and their stocks were already ordered in preparation for the busy month ahead.
People Who Go Against Government Are Not Thinking Of “The Greater Good”
In a harsh Facebook post on 27 Apr 2020, Mr Masagos called out the people who are “trying to incite” Home-Based Business (HBB) operators during this Tightened Circuit Breaker (TCB) period.
He lauded the “stoic” barbers and HBB operators who aren’t happy with the decision but understands that it’ll help to reduce the spread of infections “significantly”.
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However, the people who are trying to pressure the government to make exceptions for HBB operators during this period, he said, are irresponsible.
They should be asking for entrepreneurs to be patient, to put the safety of the country first.
“We Will Not Make Exceptions”
A Change.org petition has been created and more than 66,000 people have signed as of the time of writing.
Will it work? According to his Facebook post, it won’t.
The Singapore government does not make decisions under pressure, he said, especially when “the demand is harmful to society”.
If the HBB operators continue their business as usual, they run the risk of being infected or becoming a cluster of COVID-19 cases — more so near Raya, when orders pile up.
He added that the government cannot make exceptions during the TCB.
They are purportedly fighting for the rights of the entrepreneurs but in fact they’re only rubbing more salt into their wounds — because they know the government cannot make exceptions to any sector affected in the TCB period.
He asks for everyone to be patient and assures that when the situation gets better, barbers and HBBs will be allowed to go back to work.
The Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce & Industry, he added, will help to organise HBB operators after TCB is lifted and allow them to continue operations with safeguards in place.
And It COULD Be As Early As 5 May
Also yesterday, Mr Lawrence Wong, the face of Singapore’s battle against Covid-19, has a few reassuring words to share with HBB operators.
He called for everyone to “hunker down” until 4 May, at least, because they want to bring down the number of community cases.
“Current rules do not allow for home-based F&B, but if and when community numbers do continue to come down, as we said, we’re going to review the numbers.
“And if the numbers are brought down, we may very well relax some of the restrictions, and at that time, we will let Singaporeans know when this or any other activities that we think can start will be able to resume.”
Of course, don’t take this as an absolute because, for this CB and TCB period, the only thing that remains constant is change.
But for all home-based bakers; don’t use your flour to clean your house yet. There is still hope.