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Stereo Camera Adopted in Suzuki’s New Wagon R Smile

TOKYO, Sep 30, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Hitachi Astemo, Ltd. has announced the adoption of its stereo camera by Suzuki Motor Corporation for the New Wagon R Smile city car, launched in September 2021.In a first for Suzuki, the New Wagon R smile adopts a passing assist(1) function to aid in safely passing cars on narrow roads. Hitachi Astemo's high-precision stereo camera features nighttime pedestrian detection function, and supports various Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) along with Dual Camera Brake Support, which detects pedestrians even at night. It also supports lane departure warning system, adaptive cruise control (ACC) capable of following at all speeds,(2) and image-based training data using Hitachi's proprietary machine learning technology, which is capable of detecting the driving environment with high precision. This state-of-the-art technology significantly improves the car's ability to detect pedestrians even during night and low-light conditions.The New Wagon R Smile is categorized by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure as "Safety Support Car S Wide,"(3) the highest safety classification, and is also recognized as an Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS2) certified vehicle as well as a Pedal Misapplication Prevention Device (PMPD) certified vehicle.(4) Hitachi Astemo strives to support Safety Support Cars through its advanced ADAS technology and contribute to not only improving passenger safety, but also preventing traffic accidents that involve pedestrians or bicycles when making a turn.Hitachi Astemo is committed to creating social, environmental and economic value by providing advanced mobility solutions that contribute to improving safety, comfort and environmental conservation, creating a more sustainable society to improve quality of life and create value for our OEM customers.(1) Equipped in the vehicles with memory navigation featuring omnidirectional monitor and "Omnidirectional Monitor Camera Package" vehicles(2) Equipped in "Safety Plus Package" vehicles(3) One of the classes of Safety support cars equipped with certain driving assistance functions such as advanced safety technology including collision damage mitigation brake. Vehicles classified in "Safety support car S" are equipped with devices such as pedal misapplication prevention device and is particularly recommended for senior drivers. "Safety support car S wide" class applies to vehicles equipped with collision damage mitigation braking (against pedestrian), acceleration control device for pedal misapplication, lane departure warning system and advanced lighting.(4) Vehicles certified by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which fulfill particular performance levels of collision damage mitigation braking and sudden acceleration control device for pedal misapplication, as part of measures to prevent accidents.About Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Hitachi Astemo is a joint venture between Hitachi, Ltd. and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Hitachi Astemo is a technology company that develops, manufactures, sells and services automotive and transportation components, as well as industrial machinery and systems. For more information, visit the company's website at https://www.hitachiastemo.com/en Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Agilex Biolabs Announced as Citeline Award Finalist for COVID-19 Vaccine Toxicology Preclinical Research

ADELAIDE, AUS, Sep 24, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Agilex Biolabs, Australia's most experienced and technologically advanced bioanalytical laboratory and the only biolab in the region with a dedicated toxicology unit, has been selected as a finalist for the Most Successful Early Phase Research (Preclinical & Phase I) category in the Citeline Awards 2021.The Citeline Awards were created to recognize accomplishments across the biopharmaceutical industry, providing an opportunity for the industry to honor its highest achievers. Achievements across the spectrum of key R&D activities are celebrated, from successes in early and late-stage research, to advances in technological tools, to innovations in trial design and execution.Agilex Biolabs offers advanced bioanalytical services for biotech companies and delivers toxicology services to support pre-clinical and early phase research within their TetraQ, division.Dr. Peter Tapley, Director Toxicology at TetraQ, said the research submitted for the Citeline Award focussed on preclinical assessment of the safety and tolerability of a SARS-CoV-2 Sclamp protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine in rats."The preclinical toxicity studies conducted by TetraQ were required to enable the rapid approval and safe progression of the novel SARS-CoV-2 Sclamp subunit vaccine into clinical testing in healthy volunteers," he said."This research highlights the pathways that biotech companies can take for rapid vaccine development, and how the Australian research, regulatory and clinical infrastructure provides a supportive environment."The TetraQ safety studies conducted in support of the vaccine development were referenced in Watterson et al 'Preclinical development of a molecular clamp-stabilised subunit vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2' Clin Transl Immunology. 2021 Apr 5;10(4): e1269. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1269. eCollection 2021. The important contributions of TetraQ to the program were acknowledged by the inclusion of Drs. Brockman, Tran and Tapley as co-authors.A description of the clinical study facilitated by the preclinical toxicity study program was reported in Chappell et al 'Safety and immunogenicity of an MF59-adjuvanted spike glycoprotein-clamp vaccine for SARS-CoV-2: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1 trial' Lancet Infect Infect Dis. 2021 Apr 19; S1473-3099(21)00200-0. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00200-0. This publication also included reference to vaccine serum antibody titre analyses conducted by Agilex Biolabs to support the clinical program. This contribution was acknowledged by the inclusion of Drs Tran and Tapley as co-authors. Although the development of this version of the SARS-CoV-2 Sclamp vaccine was ultimately discontinued the clinical study demonstrated the potential of the Sclamp vaccine technology.The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the rapid development of a series of novel vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2 in Australia, facilitated by the availability of high-quality contract research organizations such as Agilex Biolabs, and a favorable regulatory environment.Agilex Biolabs' TetraQ division offers a range of toxicology services to support early to late stage development programs. These services include exploratory toxicology and pharmacokinetics studies and GLP toxicology services. Studies requiring non-rodent species including dogs and non-human primates are conducted via our partner labs. Studies are also supported by Agilex Biolabs' world class bioanalytical and immunoassay services.Agilex Biolabs offers services for both small molecules and biologics for PK, immunogenicity (PD) and biomarker bioanalysis utilising the two platforms of LC-MS/MS and Immunoassay.Agilex Biolabs' world-class immunoassay and immunobiology laboratories feature state-of-the-art equipment including Gyrolab Xplore, MSD Quickplex 120, Luminex Magpix, BD FACSymphony A3 flow cytometer and soon to be released, digital droplet quantitative real-time RT-PCR.Australian clinical trials have remained open for business and Agilex Biolabs is a designated essential service so clients can be assured of study continuity.Agilex Biolabs has more than 140 staff which includes 85 dedicated laboratory staff, and supports client pharma and biotech companies from US, Europe and APAC.The 2021 Citeline Awards will take place October 14, 2021 in Boston, MA, USA.Book a confidential briefing with our scientists before you start your next clinical trial. https://calendly.com/agilexbiolabs/30minAbout Agilex Biolabs https://www.agilexbiolabs.com/Agilex Biolabs, the Australian specialist bioanalytical and toxicology laboratory facilities for clinical trials, has more than 24 years' experience in performing regulated bioanalysis, including quality method development, method validation and sample analysis services. It has successfully supported hundreds of preclinical and clinical trials from around the world where eligible customers choose Australia for the streamlined regulatory process, quality data and access to the world's most attractive R&D rebate of up to 43.5% on both nonclinical and clinical trial work conducted in Australia.Agilex Biolabs also offers toxicology services through TetraQ an Agilex Biolabs company, an established GLP toxicology facility in Australia.Agilex Biolabs has the leading certifications including OECD GLP Recognition with NATA (Australian Government OECD GLP Compliance monitoring authority) and ISO 17025 Accreditation for global recognition.The company has recently expanded its main labs by more than 30% to accommodate biotech demand from APAC and the USA. In addition Agilex Biolabs has launched a new Immunobiology lab - watch the video here. https://www.agilexbiolabs.com/launch-of-immunobiology-laboratory/Agilex Biolabs specialises in bioanalysis of small molecules and biologics for PK, immunogenicity, biomarkers and immunological pharmacodynamics assessments utilising LC-MS/MS, immunoassay (Mesoscale, Gyrolab, Luminex) and flow cytometry (BD FACSymphony A3, 20 colour cell analyser).Agilex offers pharmacodynamics services that include immunobiology services using the latest state-of-the-art technology to support immunology, cell biology and mode of action assays, including:- Immunophenotyping- Receptor occupancy- Cytokine release assays (whole blood or PBMC stimulation assays) and cytokine/biomarker profiling- PBMC assays and cellular mechanism of action assays Agilex Biolabs Media Contact:Kate NewtonMedia@AgilexBiolabs.com Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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2nd round of Rental Support Scheme payouts for owners, tenants to start Sept 22

SINGAPORE- More than 35,800 tenants and owner-occupiers will receive their second Rental Support Scheme (RSS) payouts from Sept 22. In a joint statement on Friday (Sept 17), the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said the payouts, totalling over $200 million, will be disbursed ahead of schedule by about a month. This is to ensure that businesses receive cash flow relief as soon as possible. The statement said: "As with the first RSS payout disbursed on Aug 6, the rental support will be provided directly to tenants without going through the landlords. This payout mechanism has allowed tenants to receive the RSS payouts from the Government promptly." The rental relief is offered to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and eligible Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) with an annual revenue not exceeding $100 million, which are tenants or owner-occupiers of qualifying commercial properties. The second RSS payout was announced on July 23 by MOF, in a move to support businesses with rental costs during the second Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) from July 22 to August 18. This second payout will be equivalent to half a month of rent for the period of July 22 to August 18. In total, the two RSS payouts support businesses' rental costs to the tune of over $400 million. Those eligible will be notified by post of their RSS cash payout. Alternatively,they can also log into myTax Portal from Sept 22 to view the electronic copy of their letter. Those without PayNow or existing GIRO arrangements will receive cheques by Oct 6. Those who are eligible but do not receive the payout notification should submit an application to IRAS. Applications will open on Sept 29 and close on Nov 12. More on this topic   Related Story Commercial landlords to provide 2 weeks of rental waiver to qualifying SME and non-profit tenants   Related Story Businesses cheer direct payouts under Rental Support Scheme

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AbbVie, Eisai, and EA Pharma Launch “Humira Support Tool Ordering Service for Patients”

TOKYO, Sep 13, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - AbbVie GK, Eisai Co., Ltd., and EA Pharma Co., Ltd. announced today that, on September 13, 2021, the companies launched "Humira Support Tool Ordering Service for Patients" an initiative intended to improve patients' adherence to Humira therapy. "Humira Support Tool Ordering Service for Patients" is a free-of-charge service that assists patients on Humira therapy by directly delivering support tools to their home or other requested location. Patients can use this service by applying on the website or using a designated form to request support tools such as containers for disposal of used syringes, bags for disposal of used pens, disease-specific health management notebooks, and disease-specific medication guides for patients. The requested support tools are delivered to their home or other desired location free-of-charge. Formerly, patients received the support tools they needed during a clinic visit. When the support tools they needed were not available at the clinic, it took time to deliver the support tools to patients, potentially resulting in unavailability of the tools when needed. In addition, some large-sized tools, such as containers for disposal of used syringes, put a burden on patients who had to carry them home. This service is intended to allow patients to shorten the time required to receive support tools and reduce the burden of carrying them.In Japan, AbbVie is the marketing and manufacturing authorization holder for Humira. Abbvie and Eisai are co-promoting Humira for the indications in the fields of rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, arthropathic psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, uveitis, pustular psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa and pyoderma gangrenosum. For the indications in the field of gastrointestinal disease (i.e., Crohn's disease, intestinal Bechet's disease and ulcerative colitis), AbbVie is co-promoting Humira with EA Pharma, commissioned by Eisai for promotion. Through providing "Humira Support Tool Ordering Service for Patients," AbbVie, Eisai, and EA Pharma are committed to further enhancing patient support programs and contributing to improved treatment adherence.About HUMIRAHUMIRA is a fully human anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody. In Japan, it is approved for "the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (including inhibition of the progression of structural damage); hidradenitis suppurativa, pyoderma gangrenosum, the treatment of plaque psoriasis, arthritic psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis*, intestinal Behcet's disease, and non-infectious intermediate, posterior and panuveitis that are refractory to the conventional therapies, induction and maintenance therapy for moderate to severely active Crohn's disease (limited to patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy), and treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (limited to patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy)."* HUMIRA for Subcutaneous Injection 20 mg Syringe 0.2 mL is approved. HUMIRA for Subcutaneous Injection 80 mg Syringe 0.8 mL and HUMIRA for Subcutaneous Injection 80 mg Pen 0.8 mL are yet to be approved. Nonproprietary name: Adalimumab Brand name: Fully Human Anti- TNF-alpha Monoclonal Antibody "HUMIRA for Subcutaneous Injection 20 mg Syringe 0.2 mL; HUMIRA for Subcutaneous Injection 40 mg Syringe 0.4 mL; HUMIRA for Subcutaneous Injection 80 mg Syringe 0.8 mL; HUMIRA for Subcutaneous Injection 40 mg Pen 0.4 mL; and HUMIRA for Subcutaneous Injection 80 mg Pen 0.8 mL" About AbbVieAbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com.About EisaiEisai Co., Ltd. is a leading global research and development-based pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan. We define our corporate mission as "giving first thought to patients and their families and to increasing the benefits health care provides," which we call our human health care (hhc) philosophy. With approximately 10,000 employees working across our global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to realize our hhc philosophy by delivering innovative products to address unmet medical needs, with a particular focus in our strategic areas of Neurology and Oncology. For more information about Eisai Co., Ltd., please visit www.eisai.com. About EA PharmaEA Pharma Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd. for gastrointestinal disease area, was established in April 2016 by integration of the gastrointestinal business unit with more than 60 year's history of the Eisai Group and the gastrointestinal business unit of the Ajinomoto Group having amino acid as its business core. EA Pharma Co., Ltd., is a gastrointestinal specialty pharmaceutical company with a full value chain covering R&D, production & logistics and sales & marketing.For further information on EA Pharma Co., Ltd., please visit https://www.eapharma.co.jp/en. Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Football: Van Dijk returns for Liverpool after nine months

LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk returned to action for the first time in nine months in a pre-season friendly on Thursday (July 29). The 30-year-old suffered knee ligament damage in the Merseyside derby against Everton in October. He subsequently missed the rest of the season as Liverpool were dethroned as Premier League champions as well as the delayed Euro 2020 event. On Thursday, he came on as a 69th-minute substitute in Liverpool's 4-3 friendly defeat to German side Hertha Berlin in Austria. "It's hard to express how I am feeling, but it's important to me that I say I feel blessed to have had the support of so many incredible people. The surgeon, my physios, coaches and staff who have been with me in my corner since day one," tweeted the Dutchman after the game. "My teammates for giving me energy and keeping my head up. The fans for their love, support and encouragement. And most of all, my family because without them, I'd be nothing. Thank you. The work doesn't stop now. It's only just starting. We keep going!" Also making his return on Thursday was fellow centre-back Joe Gomez who suffered a season-ending knee injury on England duty also in October last year. 285 days ago, I started on a journey back towards playing. It’s hard to express how I am feeling, but it’s important to me that I say I feel blessed to have had the support of so many incredible people. The surgeon, my physios, coaches and staff who have been with me in my 1/2 pic.twitter.com/jdWKUHykDI— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) July 29, 2021 corner since day one. My teammates for giving me energy and keeping my head up. The fans for their love, support and encouragement. And most of all, my family because without them, I’d be nothing. Thank you. The work doesn’t stop now. It’s only just starting. We keep going! 2/2 pic.twitter.com/OiNLMLO44q— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) July 29, 2021 Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said it was "nice to have them back". "I'm not sure, 260-something days for Virg and not much less for Joe they didn't play football, so it's nice to have them back," said Klopp. "It was the first step, really important." Liverpool begin their Premier League season at promoted Norwich City on Aug 14. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Wijnaldum didn't feel 'Liverpool love'   Related Story Mass-testing reduces Liverpool Covid-19 cases by a fifth, says study

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S’pore public to weigh in on rehabilitation of ex-offenders during 3-day virtual summit

SINGAPORE - Members of the public here will be given the chance- for the first time - to weigh in on strategies to help former offenders stay on the right path and not return to a life of crime during a three-day virtual summit which kicked off on Tuesday (July 13). The event is organised by the Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders (Care) Network and about 500 participants, including university students and faculty members, are expected to tune in. Discussions will cover topics such as employment for former offenders, support for their families, and catering to the needs of different groups of former offenders such as youth, the elderly and those with mental-health concerns. The dialogue sessions are part of the network's efforts to adopt a whole-of-community approach to help former offenders rehabilitate and reintegrate into society. During her opening address at the launch of the summit on Tuesday, Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo discussed initiatives to strengthen support for ex-offenders and their families beyond employment opportunities amid the Covid-19 pandemic. "This past year has been challenging for all of us. This includes ex-offenders and their families, who must navigate their rehabilitation and reintegration journey through evolving challenges posed by the pandemic. "Care Network's next horizon is about supporting ex-offenders to stay crime-free over the longer term. Today, about four in 10 ex-offenders go back to prison within five years of release. We must do more to improve this five-year recidivism rate," she said. Mrs Teo, who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs, highlighted the key areas the network had focused on in the past year following a 2019 review that examined initiatives to further reduce the recidivism rate. In order to advance the capabilities of agencies and individuals in the network, a framework was launched in April 2020, which curates suitable training courses for professionals such as social workers, case managers and volunteers, to equip them with the right tools to support their clients. And to further strengthen reintegration and support for inmates during their time in prison and after, two of the network's partners - the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association and the Industrial & Services Co-operative Society - launched a programme in January to encourage former offenders to embrace interest groups such as Break the Cycle SG and Canvas Arts. Counsellor Ranjit Singh from the National Addictions Management Service at the Institute of Mental Health was one of the members of the working group that made recommendations as part of the review to tackle recidivism. Mr Singh turned to drugs when he was 19 years old. In his 30s, he enrolled himself in The Helping Hand halfway house to overcome his drug addiction. Now, at 59, he draws on his own experience when engaging patients as an addiction counsellor. In his thirties, Mr Ranjit Singh had enrolled himself in The Helping Hand halfway house to overcome his drug addiction. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR Said Mr Singh: "I was able to turn my life around during my time at the halfway house. But we need as many diverse resources as possible to help former addicts in their recovery process. So, besides the halfway houses and de-addiction centres, pro-social groups is a ground-up idea where individuals who are interested in helping others in their recovery come together." He added: "Recovery is all about finding meaning and purpose, and interest groups - like a sports group or arts group - can help former addict cope." Since its inception in 2000, Care Network has been expanding its reach to more community partners over the years, including a collaboration set up this February between the Yellow Ribbon Fund (YRF) and the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) to provide financial assistance to selected inmates who qualify for the Singapore University of Social Sciences degree programmes offered in Prison School. More on this topic   Related Story Training for volunteers who work with prison inmates and ex-offenders in S'pore to be enhanced   Related Story Social support to be stepped up to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society The YRF- SFCCA STAR Bursary supports up to 100 per cent of course fees for eligible inmates pursuing tertiary education and has supported 11 inmates as at April this year. Other community partners the network is working with include non-profit group AMP - formerly known as the Association of Muslim Professionals - and the Singapore Indian Development Association. Chairman of Yellow Ribbon Singapore and co-chairman of the Care Network Chng Hwee Hong said: "Just as the saying goes, 'It takes a village to raise a child', we can also build a conducive and supportive environment which encourages ex-offenders to take ownership of their reintegration and inspire others along the way, through collaborations with existing and new partners in government, corporate supporters and the larger community. "The power of community action is immense and amplified when we can include more from society in helping ex-offenders on their journey." More on this topic   Related Story Former drug addicts to get more support from Govt and community groups to find jobs and reintegrate into society   Related Story Drug trafficker-turned-social worker shares how he left his past behind in new book

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Action map provides ideas to support caregivers of persons with disabilities

SINGAPORE - A new action map will lay the foundations for organisations and agencies in improving the lives of caregivers of persons with disabilities in the coming years. The Caregiver Action Map launched on Tuesday (July 6) is a guide for social service agencies and other organisations seeking to develop or improve support for caregivers of persons with disabilities. Facilitated by the Institute of Policy Studies and SG Enable, the map is developed by the Coalition of Partners for Caregivers Support - a group of 25 community partners, social service agencies and hospitals that came together in 2018. The map's three key pillars are user-centric service delivery, self-help and mutual support, and community and social inclusion. It offers more than 60 ideas and agencies can come up with initiatives to better address the needs of caregivers. For example, Minds, a charity that supports people with intellectual disabilities and their families, is piloting an online toolkit meant to help with future care-planning conversations. Minds head of caregiver support services Ong Lay Hoon said one key issue raised in the discussion sessions the coalition had was that many caregivers worry about what will happen to their children when they die, and they are at a loss on where and how to start planning for it. "We plan to pilot this programme to reach out to at least 300 caregivers by the end of the year," said Ms Ong. Minds also plans to do more with its siblings support programme, which aims to support and help siblings better understand their roles in caring for a family member with intellectual disability and build positive relationships, she said. The programme is for siblings of all ages and caters differently for each age group, such as having school holiday activities or quarterly support group sessions. There are now about 120 people on the programme, including those who are transitioning to take over from their aged parents the care of siblings with special needs. Ms Prema Govindan, director of caregivers support at SG Enable, said that from the agency's regular engagements with caregivers, a recurrent theme was the need for greater peer support and better navigation of the different services and support available in the community. She said: "Caregivers of persons with disabilities are very concerned about looking after their loved ones, but they forget about themselves like looking after their health and getting respite." SG Enable regularly consults about 50 caregiver support group leaders, who each look after another 10 to 50 caregivers. The agency also has a database of 1,000 caregivers that it is in touch with. Ms Prema said: "We hope to constantly update the map as the needs of caregivers change. We hope to have a better idea then, of the areas we are doing well in, areas we want to focus on, and new areas of concern that emerge." More on this topic   Related Story New pilot to better support persons with higher need disabilities and their caregivers   Related Story S'pore to improve employability, independence of persons with disabilities: What's in the works One example of how schemes can be rolled out after identifying needs on the ground is the Take-A-Break respite programme that began during the circuit breaker last year. "During that period, a lot of centres (like day activity centres) were closed. So we worked with private providers to offer respite, and till now this is still ongoing," said Ms Prema. For Mr Anand Lal, 51, the caregiver support groups he is a part of have been a huge help. His older son Krish, 14, has intellectual disability and apraxia, a neurological disorder that can lead to speech impairment. Father and son communicate through an app on an iPad. Mr Anand quit his job as a project manager five years ago to care for Krish full-time. He is now a swim coach. He said: "These support groups help me with getting the information I need. For example, recently I was very worried about Krish getting his Covid-19 vaccine shot. The doctors in the community chats advised me and some of them invited me for a cup of coffee to explain further. More on this topic   Related Story Lower fees for adult day activity centres for lower-income persons with disabilities   Related Story People with autism need more support to live independently, says masterplan "The moment I put anything into the chats I get a lot of info and advice, or get referred to other help, so I feel very empowered. When I first started out caring for Krish (when he was diagnosed at 18 months old), I was spending a lot of money but not getting anywhere." One of the biggest challenges Mr Anand and his wife, 48, a chief executive at a healthcare institution, faced when Krish was diagnosed, was trying to understand what their son needed, and knowing where to find help and how to plan things like finances. Now, resources and knowledge are more widely available, he added. The couple also have a 16-month-old son. "As we move forward, the eternal worry is whether I can ensure I can always provide for Krish adequately, both during my life and after life," said Mr Anand. He hopes there will be more job opportunities for those with disabilities who are able to work so that parents and caregivers can rest easy. For others who are unable to work, he hopes that there will be community living spaces available for them. More on this topic   Related Story Set up time banking for caregivers in need to tap neighbours, other caregivers for support: IPS panel   Related Story Why 'disability' word not used in Census 2020, even as these numbers reported for the first time

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Global IT Consultancy Xebia Acquires coMakeIT to Support Clients’ Continuous Innovation

Hilversum, the Netherlands, 22 June 2021 - Xebia, the global IT consultancy firm, has acquired software product engineering company coMakeIT to support clients' continuous innovation and business growth.coMakeIT, founded in the Netherlands in 2006, helps product and software companies thrive by providing software product expertise, people and tools needed to meet ambitious objectives. Today, the company's primary focus is on product software companies creating the right mix of technology and teams support with the right talents so that its clients can achieve sustainable growth. CoMakeIT has profound knowledge of software development, product engineering, application modernization, digital transformation, and recruitment and operates from offices in the Netherlands, the UK, India, and Australia.Xebia is a fast-growing digital leader known for helping companies worldwide digitally transform by offering high-quality IT consultancy from its offices in the Netherlands, India, the UK, the US and Dubai. The company has successfully launched several brands and continues to expand in line with its 'buy and build' strategy: partnering with thought leaders to gain additional footing in the digital space together. With coMakeIT, Xebia looks forward to expanding its managed services capability and having the resources to accelerate its clients' software development.Steven ten Napel, CEO and founder coMakeIT: "We are extremely value-driven. Just like Xebia, at coMakeIT, it's all about 'people first.' Our company culture and field of work are very similar, which makes us a perfect match. Together, we will soon be able to better assist clients in overcoming scalability issues, implementing modern technology, and realizing growth."Anand Sahay, CEO Xebia Global Services: "Xebia is an established leader in the Digital transformation, Software Engineering, Cloud, DevOps and Architecture space. Acquiring coMakeIT will help Xebia address the cloud-native and platform development needs of the ISV market and grow in that space globally. Together with coMakeIT, we clearly see complementary ability to create future-ready products for our ISV customers and also develop innovative software for these platforms to help ISV's customers' needs. This creates a very strong proposition for ISVs and our ability to partner with them." The right technology and the right talents are crucial for growth in a digital world. Acquiring coMakeIT will strengthen Xebia's long-term relationships with clients through comprehensive managed services, and coMakeIT will gain access to Xebia's in-depth knowledge of all digital transformation domains. Besides sharing the same values, both original Dutch companies have experience expanding their presence to India, for example, and will jointly continue to help businesses grow worldwide.About XebiaXebia is a leading IT Consulting and Digital Technology company committed to delivering innovation and business excellence across the globe. It delivers digital solutions to global leaders for transforming their IT and Business Operations. With nearly two decades of experience, it enables its clients through their digital journey by enabling them with informed decision-making through process level enhancements, intelligent data solutions, enhance their customer experience & journeys with new-age solutions and help strengthen their core with modern technologies such as AI/ML/Robotics, Microservices, Cloud-native apps and agile at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance. For more information, please visit us at www.xebia.comAbout coMakeITHeadquartered in Baarn, Netherlands, and with offices in Australia, UK, and India, coMakeIT helps software businesses and enterprises to accelerate their product innovation, modernize aging applications and productize best practices into new software IP. For more information, please visit us at https://www.comakeit.com For media queriesEmail: infoindia@xebia.com Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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$2.2b in JSS payouts to support wages of more than 2m workers from June 30

SINGAPORE - More than 140,000 employers will receive Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) payouts totalling more than $2.2 billion from June 30. This will support the wages of more than two million local employees, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) in a statement released on Tuesday (June 22). With this payout, more than $26.7 billion in JSS support would have been disbursed since the introduction of the scheme at the Unity Budget in February 2020. Employers who have made mandatory CPF contributions for their local employees for the months of January to March 2021 by the stipulated deadlines will qualify to receive the payout, said the MOF and Iras. For the payout in June, employers in the aviation, aerospace and tourism sectors will receive 50 per cent support for the first $4,600 of gross monthly wages paid in January, February and March 2021. Those in food services, retail, arts and entertainment, land transport, built environment, and marine and offshore sectors will receive 30 per cent support for wages paid during the same period. Employers in all other sectors — excluding biomedical sciences, precision engineering, electronics, financial services, information and communications technology, media, postal and courier, online retail, and supermarkets and convenience stores — will receive 10 per cent support. Eligible employers will be notified by post of their payout amount later this month. They can also log in to myTax Portal to view the electronic copy of their letter. Employers who have registered for PayNow Corporate by June 25, 2021, or have existing Giro arrangements with Iras, can expect to receive the JSS payouts from June 30. Other employers will receive their cheques from July 5. As announced earlier, to help businesses during phases two and three (heightened alert), the JSS will be enhanced to support sectors that have been significantly affected by the safe management measures from May 16 to July 11. Sectors which are significantly affected will receive 50 per cent support for this period. Other sectors that are affected will receive 30 per cent support for the period of restrictions, and 10 per cent support thereafter from July 12 to 25. Details of qualifying sectors can be found at this website. The enhanced payout will be disbursed in September. More on this topic   Related Story Govt extends Jobs Support Scheme by up to 6 months   Related Story Retail, construction, arts and F&B firms welcome wage support, but need more help MOF and Iras reminded employers in their statement to contribute the right amount of CPF for their employees, based on actual wages paid. "Employers' CPF contributions are used to determine the amount of JSS payout. The penalties for any attempt to abuse the JSS are severe," they said. Other than having their JSS payouts denied, offenders can be charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code and face up to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine. Businesses or individuals who wish to report any malpractices or potential abuses of the JSS may do so by e-mail to jssreport @ iras.gov.sg or online at this website.   As part of the checks for JSS eligibility, a small number of employers will receive letters from Iras asking them to conduct a self-review of their CPF contributions and to provide declarations or documents to substantiate their eligibility for JSS payouts. Their June 2021 payouts will be withheld pending the self-review and verification by Iras and disbursed after the completion of the review. More information on the scheme can be found at this website.  More on this topic   Related Story What will happen to some firms when wage subsidies under Jobs Support Scheme end   Related Story Some S'pore companies fear they won't survive without wage support scheme

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More support needed for low birth weight babies, pregnant mums with diabetes, maternal mental health: Masagos

SINGAPORE - Couples who have babies with low birth weight and pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus need more support, and more can also be done to ensure maternal mental health and well-being, said Second Minister for Health Masagos Zulkifli on Monday (June 7). This additional support will provide a better environment for children here to grow up in, as the early years - and in particular the first 1,000 days - are critical for the child to build a strong foundation, he said. Mr Masagos, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development, highlighted these three key areas where more can be done during a speech at the third Temasek Shophouse Conversations forum, which focused on maternal and child wellness. The virtual event, organised by Temasek Foundation in partnership with KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), was attended by about 600 participants from the public, private, and community sectors. Mr Masagos said that Singapore has achieved good international rankings in life expectancy and attaining the lowest infant mortality rates. "We can do more in some areas: go even more upstream where we can, focus our resources on certain developmental pathways which warrant more attention," he said. He noted that one in 10 babies in Singapore is born with low birth weight and is thus at higher risk of developing physical and mental health issues later in life, such as obesity and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Maternal malnutrition and health problems, maternal age, and preterm birth are key factors contributing to low birth weight, he said. "Fortunately, many of these can be addressed if we support couples even before conception. (This is) a good opportunity for social-health integration," said Mr Masagos. The Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (Gusto) study has also found that one in five pregnant women is at risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Gusto is a longitudinal study that started here in 2009 to study how pregnancy and early childhood conditions influence the health and development of women and their children. Diabetes in pregnancy, also known as gestational diabetes mellitus, is a condition of abnormal or elevated glucose readings during pregnancy. Mothers and their children are then at higher risk of metabolic disorders, and children are at a higher risk of developing obesity. Taking this into account, KKH initiated the Temasek Foundation GDM Care Programme to provide enhanced care for mothers with GDM, said Mr Masagos. "But we should not only see this as a medical issue. This is an area where it takes a whole-of-society effort," he added. More on this topic   Related Story $3,000 support grant for S'porean babies born over next 2 years   Related Story How can Covid-19 affect pregnancy and childbirth? Healthcare and social agencies can work alongside community organisations to develop programmes to address the risk factors for GDM, such as through physical activities and encouraging a nutritious diet. The Gusto study also found that found that maternal depression during pregnancy affects the development of brain microstructure in the foetus, which could lead to anxiety and mood disorders in the child's later life. Hence it is important to strengthen social support to mothers and mothers-to-be, and everyone can play a part, said Mr Masagos. For example, healthcare workers actively look out for symptoms of low mood and depression during antenatal and post-natal check-ups through screenings for mothers and mothers-to-be, while social agencies and community groups can also look out for such symptoms. At the workplace, more psychological and emotional support can be given to employees and colleagues who are pregnant or transiting back to work after maternity leave, such as through more flexible work arrangements. "At home and in the community, we can lend our support to our spouse, friends, relatives and neighbours who are pregnant and may be experiencing psycho-emotional stress," said Mr Masagos. He also gave an update on the inter-agency task force that aims to boost maternal health and kids' well-being here. The formation of the task-force was announced during the debate on the Health Ministry's budget earlier this year. More on this topic   Related Story Govt to provide additional support for newborns to help aspiring parents cope with Covid-19 impact   Related Story More pregnant women diagnosed with heart problems in Singapore The task force is developing a five-year strategy to provide comprehensive support to women and their children, starting as early as pre-conception and extending until the child turns 18. Mr Masagos gave a breakdown of the task force's plans. First, the task force will translate evidence-based findings into policies and programmes to address upstream risk factors. These include reviewing upstream preventive health efforts for women and children or exploring how to better prepare and equip young couples for parenthood. Second, the Government and the agencies involved are reviewing their service delivery processes and will look at how healthcare agencies can strengthen collaboration with the social service and education sector organisations. Third, the task force will use public education to boost awareness and engagement in order to shape positive behaviours. Said Mr Masagos: " If we want to give (children) the best start in life, our support must also extend to the mother... It makes good sense for our entire society to be invested into this cause, because it benefits everyone." More on this topic   Related Story Prenatal depression: One mum-to-be started busking to ease pregnancy blues   Related Story Covid-19 pandemic brought women's mental health needs to the forefront: Muslim women's association

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Wintermar wins 5-year contract for 2 OSVs supporting Indonesian Oilfield

JAKARTA, May 25, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Wintermar group has been awarded a 5 year contract to provide 2 Offshore Support Vessels for a multinational oil and gas company in Indonesia.Wintermar will supply 2 units of Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessels to support production off the northern coast of East Java for a period of 5 years. The vessels will support an FPSO (Floating Production Storage Offtake) unit in a producing field. The total contract value of the contract for this project amounts to US$ 22 Million."We are pleased to have been selected to support this project by a leading multinational oil and gas company. This affirms our clients' recognition of Wintermar's committed efforts to ensure high standards of quality, health and safety," said Sugiman Layanto, Managing Director of PT Wintermar Offshore Marine Tbk. "This long term contract underlines the Indonesian government commitment to invest heavily to raise the country's output of oil and gas after some years of decline. Wintermar as the leader in the domestic offshore vessel industry is ready to play our role."As at 24 May 2021, the Company's contracts on hand amount to USD 76.7 million.--Building growth and sustainability for the coming recoveryAs the oil industry is recovering globally, there are more projects being reactivated again. The Management has been studying some potential projects to position for a recovery. During the past two years, the Company has sold many older vessels and reduced gearing to 31% by end December 2020. Overhead costs have been significantly reduced and the company has a strong commitment to sustainability.--Commitment to Seafarers' wellbeingWintermar has also signed our commitment to the Neptune Declaration on Seafarers Wellbeing and Crew change. Recognising that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of disruption and impacted thousands of crew around the world, signatories to the Neptune Declaration recognize that seafarers are key workers pledges to pursue best practices for health protocols, speed up access to vaccinations and collaborate to do what is necessary to protect seafarers and expedite crew change. More information can be read here: https://www.globalmaritimeforum.org/content/2020/12/The-Neptune-Declaration-on-Seafarer-Wellbeing-and-Crew-Change.pdfAbout Wintermar Offshore Marine GroupWintermar Offshore Marine Group (WINS.JK), developed over nearly 50 years with a track record of quality that is both a source of pride and responsibility that we are dedicated to upholding, and sails a fleet of more than 48 Offshore Support Vessels ready for long term as well as spot charters. All vessels are operated by an experienced Indonesian crew, tracked by satellite systems and monitored in real-time by shore-based Vessel Teams.Wintermar is the first shipping company in Indonesia to be certified with an Integrated Management System by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, and is currently certified with ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO14001:2015 (Environment) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety). For more information, please visit www.wintermar.com.For further information, please contact:Ms. Pek Swan Layanto, CFAInvestor RelationsPT Wintermar Offshore Marine TbkTel +62-21 530 5201Email: investor_relations@wintermar.com Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Lower fees for adult day activity centres for lower-income persons with disabilities

SINGAPORE - Persons with disabilities from lower-income families will pay less for services at adult day activity centres from October this year, as part of plans to improve their quality of life and services received. Adult day activity centres and disability homes will also receive more funding, meant to raise the standards of care and services, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) announced on Tuesday (April 20). The ministry is also piloting a new disability case management programme meant to better support persons with disabilities who have higher support needs and their caregivers. These moves come about a week after MSF unveiled a slew of recommendations put forth by two work groups under the Third Enabling Masterplan to improve the lives of persons with disabilities here. MSF said that from Oct 1, 2021, a fee cap will be introduced for day activity centre clients from households with gross per capita household income of $2,800 a month or less. Over 500 of the more than 1,300 existing clients, who currently pay between $106 and $754 monthly, will see their fees reduced. The reductions range from six to 81 per cent depending on income tier, and this means the new fees will be from $20 to $710. There are some clients in the lower-income tiers who are already paying a nominal fee that is below the fee cap due to their financial situation. MSF said it will continue to work with the day activity centres to extend additional financial support to families who may require more help, such as those with multiple family members requiring centre services. The ministry said that it would invest an additional $3 million a year to enhance the services of the 31 day activity centres, an increase of over 20 per cent from current annual funding. This is also to enable the centres to hire more care staff to improve the quality of the day care and skills training that they provide to adults with disabilities. In addition, MSF is investing an additional $6 million on average a year in adult disability homes, an increase of over 25 per cent from current annual funding. Adult disability homes provide long-term residential care and short-term respite care to adults with disabilities who have no alternative accommodation. MSF will introduce a new tiered funding model that will see increased resources provided for the more than 900 residents in the 10 homes here. With the increase in funding, the homes will be able to hire more care staff and psychologists. More on this topic   Related Story New pilot to better support persons with higher need disabilities and their caregivers   Related Story New Red Cross Day Activity Centre for people with disabilities in Jurong West offers caregivers respite The ministry has also rolled out a new three-year disability case management pilot with the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (Minds) since April 1. The pilot aims to support up to 100 persons with disabilities who have high support needs - including those with moderate to severe intellectual disability or autism - and their caregivers. A nine-person team of social workers and allied health professionals will help each family better access the range of disability and social support services, and coordinate the interventions and services that each family requires. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said that the pilot is meant to support not just persons with disabilities with high support needs but also their caregivers. He added: "We will facilitate stable caregiving arrangements for persons with disabilities, so that they can continue to live with and be cared for by their families and in the community." More on this topic   Related Story People with disabilities to get more targeted help for jobs and mobility in S'pore   Related Story S'pore to improve employability, independence of persons with disabilities: What's in the works

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New pilot to better support persons with higher need disabilities and their caregivers

SINGAPORE - In 2019, Mr Singam Murugiah twice tried to enrol his adult daughter, who has intellectual disability, at a centre where she could pick up skills and learn to be more independent. She dropped out both times within a month of enrolling. Ms Shantini was too afraid and uncomfortable because of the unfamiliar surroundings, said the 66-year-old. Due to issues with his own health as well as caregiving duties, Mr Singam does not work. It has him worrying for his 31-year-old daughter's future. He is the main caregiver for his family. His 51-year-old wife has health issues and 28-year-old daughter does not work. He also has a 35-year-old son who is married and does not live with them. When social workers stepped in, they identified Ms Shantini as having a form of social anxiety. She is also afraid of loud noises and having strangers around her. As a result, she avoided leaving her home in Chua Chu Kang, said Ms Jocelyn Tan, head of social work at Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (Minds). "Her father, the main caregiver, was facing a significant amount of caregiver stress and burden as Shantini was fully dependent on him for daily necessities," she added. Over a period of time, the social workers build a rapport with Ms Shantini before eventually taking her out alone with them. They also taught her skills to mitigate her feelings of distress or when she felt anxious about her surroundings, said Ms Tan, adding the sessions were conducted in her home. As for Mr Singam, they provided him with emotional support through counselling and started discussions with him on long-term care plans for Ms Shantini. "Before Minds helped us, Shantini would cry a lot and stay at home all the time. When she wants something, she could cry for the whole day," said Mr Singam. "Now, although she cannot go out on her own, she can do some things like baking, knitting, helping her mother and cleaning our home," he added. The team from Minds also referred Ms Shantini to its home-based care services to help her build social skills so she can develop confidence and independence. More on this topic   Related Story Lower fees for adult day activity centres for lower-income persons with disabilities   Related Story People with autism need more support to live independently, says masterplan Ms Tan said the longer-term goal was to gradually transition her back to centre-based services. She added that the new disability case management programme would be able to offer such a case management arrangement - in which the client and family needs are identified and intervention and services are coordinated. The three-year pilot, announced by the Ministry of Social and Family Development and Minds on Tuesday (April 20), is meant to better support persons with disabilities with higher support needs and their caregivers. "I am very happy with the support from Minds, which is doing a good job. It is good for Shantini to improve herself as my wife and I won't be around forever," said Mr Singam. More on this topic   Related Story People with disabilities to get more targeted help for jobs and mobility in S'pore   Related Story S'pore to improve employability, independence of persons with disabilities: What's in the works

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27,000 employers hired 2 locals each on average in first 3 months of Jobs Growth Incentive scheme

SINGAPORE - Some 27,000 employers hired an average of two locals each between September and November last year, with support from the Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI). This is higher than the median of one local hire by the same employers in the same period in 2019, said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo during the 20th edition of her jobs situation report on Wednesday (March 31). In all, the JGI supported the hiring of about 130,000 locals between September and November last year, in the first three months of the scheme, said Mrs Teo during a visit to local company Pacific Logistics Group. Nearly all, or 99 per cent, of the employers were small and medium-sized enterprises. About six in 10 of them hired one to two local workers each. The remaining four hired more. The $1 billion wage subsidy scheme was launched last August to spur the hiring of locals. Eligible employers receive up to 12 months of wage support of 25 per cent for each local hire. Last month, the Government announced a seven-month extension of the scheme until September this year, with an additional $5.2 billion allocated. The JGI was also enhanced from March 1 for employers who hire mature workers, people with disabilities and former offenders. They will receive up to 50 per cent in wage support per hire for up to 18 months. The latest Ministry of Manpower figures showed that the scheme supported hiring across sectors. Nearly four in 10 hires were in growth sectors such as wholesale trade, professional services, as well as information and communications. One in five hires were in food services and retail sectors. About half of all hires were not employed at the point of hire, and more than a quarter had been out of work for more than six months. Six in 10 of all hires were previously employed in a different sector, and the same proportion earned the same or higher wages compared with their previous jobs. Nearly half of the overall hires were mature workers aged 40 and above, while one-third were 50 and above. However, the pace of hiring supported by the JGI has been slowing. In the first two months of the scheme, more than 110,000 locals were hired by 26,000 firms. Manpower Minister Josephine Teo during a visit to Pacific Logistics Group in Tuas on March 31, 2021. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID More on this topic   Related Story 150,000 S'pore employers to get $3b in Jobs Support Scheme payouts from end-March   Related Story No drop in pay for over 60% hired under jobs incentive scheme Mrs Teo said she had expected a higher take-up rate of the scheme in the first two months of its implementation, as many businesses were backfilling job positions that were lost due to the pandemic. Matching job seekers to jobs based on their existing skills was also likely easier for employers, as there was a larger pool of job seekers in the initial months of the JGI, she added. "In the months ahead, if there is sufficient hiring momentum, I think it will require more effort in terms of jobs and skills matching," said Mrs Teo. Unemployment rates have been gradually declining since the last quarter of last year, from 4.8 per cent among Singaporeans and permanent residents last October to 4.3 per cent in January. Overall unemployment rate fell from 3.6 per cent to 3.2 per cent in the same period. On Wednesday, Mrs Teo urged employers to be open-minded towards job seekers from diverse backgrounds. Employers who hire seniors aged 60 and above can get additional support on top of the JGI, through the Senior Worker Early Adopter Grant and the Part-Time Re-employment Grant. Those who need help to reskill new hires can tap Workforce Singapore's (WSG) career conversion programmes, which provide support of up to 90 per cent of wage and training costs. Local job seekers who need help with their job search can also approach WSG and NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute. More on this topic   Related Story S'pore employers adopting wait-and-see approach on hiring, say observers   Related Story S'pore's employment level saw sharpest decline in two decades in 2020

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950,000 S’porean HDB households to get $135m in S&CC rebates from April

SINGAPORE - About 950,000 Singaporean HDB households will receive $135 million in service and conservancy charge (S&CC) rebates from next month to March next year. This is part of the $900 million Household Support Package announced in this year's Budget, to provide additional support to families during this period of uncertainty, said the Ministry of Finance in a statement on Friday (March 26). The Household Support Package helps families with household expenses, with lower- to middle-income families receiving more. It includes vouchers that each household can use to defray expenses and support local businesses, as well as S&CC rebates and goods and services tax vouchers. Eligible Singaporean households will receive between 1½ and 3½ months in S&CC rebates during this fiscal year, depending on their flat type. They will be notified through letters by April 1, and receive their quarterly S&CC rebate automatically in April, July and October 2021, as well as January 2022. The rebates will be credited directly into households' S&CC accounts managed by their respective town councils. Households do not need to take any action to benefit from the rebate. In a Facebook post on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat wrote that Covid-19 has affected many Singaporeans. "At this year's Budget, I announced how we will continue to provide targeted support for families through the Household Support Package," he said. "When I go on my regular walkabouts, residents share with me that the various measures in the Household Support Package will go some way to help them in these difficult times. By helping all families through this crisis, we can emerge stronger from Covid-19." Residents can check their household's S&CC rebate eligibility online by logging in to the My HDBPage at this website with their Singpass. Those with queries on rebate eligibility can also submit them at this portal. Those with specific queries on their household's S&CC payment or account status can contact their respective town councils. More on this topic   Related Story Multiple layers of support to help S'poreans cope with impact of Covid-19: DPM Heng   Related Story $940m in wage credits to be given to over 98,000 employers by end-March

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First non-profit to support men from low-income families unveiled

SINGAPORE - Men from low-income families in Nee Soon South can receive support in finding employment and navigating mental health issues, among other challenges, through a new non-profit dedicated to them. The first organisation to focus on men from low-income backgrounds, Rise Community is the brainchild of Ms Carrie Tan, an MP for Nee Soon GRC. The non-profit was unveiled on Saturday (March 20) at the PAP Nee Soon South branch in Yishun. Its name - Rise - stands for resilience, integrity, strength, and energy. The organisation will work on improving the men's socio-emotional, physical, and financial well-being through peer support groups and by creating employment opportunities. For a start, in a two-year pilot, Rise Community aims to reach out to 500 men between the ages of 20 and 59 who live in Nee Soon South. These will include men who are the sole breadwinners of their family and live in rental flats, those who have lost their jobs, or have always been in low-wage, unstable employment and are looking to gain social mobility. The non-profit, which started work a few months ago, has about 50 members for now. Employees and members of Rise Community will work with community partners such as Sport Singapore and Yishun Health to build programmes for the men and revamp the way support is rendered to people of low-income backgrounds. "By tackling men's wellness through socio-emotional well-being, physical health and positive masculine identities, Rise Community seeks to create a peer support community where men can feel understood, supported and inspired to contribute to the community," said Ms Tan, who will be the steering adviser for the non-profit. She added: "Men's identity and self-esteem, should not be solely defined by being breadwinners, but as equal partners with women, and as enablers at home, at the workplace and in the community." More on this topic   Related Story ComLink to be expanded nationwide to support low-income families in 21 towns   Related Story Dialogue on ways to help lower-income throws up suggestions on bridging the divide A new MP who entered Parliament after the 2020 General Election, Ms Tan is no stranger to championing and being the voice for low-income individuals. In 2013, she founded charity Daughters of Tomorrow, which facilitates job opportunities for underprivileged women, and support them in achieving financial independence and building resilient families. Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam, who is the anchor minister of Nee Soon GRC, is the patron of Rise Community. Sociologist Paulin Straughan from the Singapore Management University said it is crucial for non-profits like Rise Community to act as a bridge between low-income groups and job assistance and training schemes introduced by the Government. She said: "As with all helplines in Singapore, the difficulty we have is getting the information out to those who need it, and reach out to those who have fallen through the gaps. "What the Government needs is the warriors on the ground to drive the take-up rate and fine-tune the support that is available." For such ground-up initiatives to be successful, Professor Straughan stressed that it is important not to present them as a form of charity to the men, but as an innovative form of philanthropy to support breadwinners. "We do have to be sensitive to the fact that men do not want to be seen as needy or recipients of charity. Instead, we need to have a very good understanding of where their needs are. We need to understand and hear from these men, know their pitfalls and gaps that they see in their immediate horizon, and ways to lift them up," she added. More on this topic   Related Story MPs call for stronger social compact to support vulnerable groups

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From The Backbench

GAN THIAM POH (ANG MO KIO GRC) Extending childcare leave amid Covid-19 Mr Gan noted that currently, if a young child falls sick, he is given at least five days of medical leave by the doctor due to Covid-19 conditions. "At least one parent has to take leave to look after the child. If the same child falls sick again, the other parent will have to take leave," he said, appealing for the extension of childcare support leave for working parents who do not have family support to look after their children. LEON PERERA LEON PERERA (ALJUNIED GRC) Tax capital gains in property sector Instead of hiking broad-based taxes such as petrol duty or the goods and services tax, Mr Perera of the Workers' Party suggested raising the stamp duty and additional buyer's stamp duty for more expensive properties. "Such a fiscal move would be progressive and would impact the capital gains made by sellers in the higher end of the property market," he said. "A tax on such a class of capital gains will not run the risk of unintended inflationary effects, will not damage work incentives," he added. NG LING LING  NG LING LING (ANG MO KIO GRC) Tech to support seniors living alone There is a need to continue improving the living environment of seniors to help them age in place, especially in mature estates, said Ms Ng. She suggested integrating successful features from the community care apartment pilot in Bukit Batok to the Enhancement for Active Seniors programme. "In addition to incorporating technology for an elderly monitoring and alert system, perhaps telecare, providing remote health monitoring devices, supported by care providers, could also be considered as part of (the programme)," she said. DENNIS TAN  DENNIS TAN (HOUGANG) More protection for secondary forests Mr Tan of the Workers' Party called for greater legal protection for secondary forests and suggested some of them could be regulated as nature reserves, while simple recreational activities could be allowed in others, but with more stringent rules and penalties than in parks. He said: "By legislating to this end, Parliament will send a clear signal to not only future generations, but also various actors including contractors, ministries and statutory boards, and the Government itself that the destruction of forested areas will come at a cost."

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More help urged for caregivers, most of whom are women

MPs yesterday called for more support for caregivers, the majority of whom are women who have made sacrifices to look after children, the elderly and people with disabilities. On the second day of the Budget debate, various suggestions were put forward to help this group, including providing career counselling for caregivers to start and return to work, tapping community resources to reduce caregivers' workload, and giving them more mental health support. Figures from the Report on Labour Force in Singapore 2019 showed that about 133,500 people in the resident population cited caregiving responsibilities as the main reason for having to leave the workforce, noted Ms Ng Ling Ling (Ang Mo Kio GRC). Nine in 10 of them were women, and the majority of the women were aged between 40 and 59 years. Almost seven in 10 were out of the workforce for more than five years. "Some of the most common problems that women caregivers experienced is a setback in their own health and career," said Ms Ng, who added that female caregivers also struggle with uncertainty about their future and financial adequacy in their old age. She welcomed Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat's announcement that a new Singapore Together Alliance for Action for caregivers of those with disabilities will be formed, and called for this to be expanded to female caregivers. The alliance will co-create solutions to improve support for caregivers. Career counselling and training support should also be given to caregivers who would like to return to work or start work, including taking on part-time or flexi-work arrangements, said Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC). "Earned incomes contribute to household finances and retirement adequacies, and improve the quality of life for families," she said. Ms Pereira also called for more mental health professionals to be trained to help those facing mental health issues, and to help maintain caregivers' mental health. Caregiving services can also be made more accessible to families, said Ms Cheryl Chan (East Coast GRC). For instance, those who can provide part-time caregiving services can be connected to families living near them, which can help workers to balance family care duties while supplementing their income at the same time. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said yesterday that the authorities are studying the possibility of piloting night-time childcare at a Community Link (ComLink) site for low-income families who need help with caregiving arrangements. He was responding to Mr Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC) in a written parliamentary reply. Correction note: An earlier version of this story attributed the data on those in the resident population who cited caregiving responsibilities as the main reason for having to leave the workforce to a 2020 report. It should be a 2019 report instead. 133,500 Number of people in the resident population who cited caregiving responsibilities as the main reason for having to leave the workforce, according to figures from the Report on Labour Force in Singapore 2020, noted Ms Ng Ling Ling (Ang Mo Kio GRC). The ComLink initiative, started in 2019, coordinates help for families across multiple agencies.

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Retail, construction, arts and F&B firms welcome wage support, but need more help

SINGAPORE - Employers in the food, retail, arts, and construction sectors welcomed the Government's plans to extend wage support for them until June, but many feel it is not enough. Safe management measures and a labour crunch caused by border restrictions mean they will continue to feel the pinch. Hanging on Mr Ivan Heng, the founder and artistic director of home-grown theatre company Wild Rice, said the 10 per cent wage subsidy "does not reflect the dire reality of the situation". The arts scene in Singapore has been battered by the pandemic. Theatre groups, for instance, are still reeling from the closure of theatres for several months last year. Although theatres are now open, shows are still being staged at a loss because safe distancing measures mean that even a sold-out run will have only a fraction of the seats filled. Wild Rice @ Funan, for instance, has been running at less than 25 per cent capacity. "This has a huge impact on ticket revenue. There's also a fatigue for digital offerings. So companies have hardly any means of earning any income," Mr Heng said. He added that in theatres and concert halls, the authorities could consider relaxing safe distancing restrictions. "Compared to the crowds on public transport, malls, markets, restaurants and not forgetting cinemas, do theatres pose such a danger to public?" He said: "Jobs and livelihoods are at stake... If the situation persists, the industry will not recover." Over at the construction industry, firms are resuming Covid-delayed projects but face challenges such as manpower and cash flow issues, supply chain disruptions, as well as rising material and manpower costs. The industry relies heavily on foreign workers, who do not qualify for the JSS. HSL Group's chief executive Charles Quek said while he is glad wage support for local employees would be extended at 10 per cent, till June, he had hoped for more foreign worker levy rebates, which had been given out previously. "The wages for workers - whether it's foreign workers, S pass workers or even local workers - are going up, because of lack of manpower in the industry. Material prices have also shot up, and dormitory and other associated costs have gone up too because of the safe management measures." HSL Group has 17 subsidiaries in South-east Asia, including eight in Singapore. The construction industry relies heavily on foreign workers, who do not qualify for the JSS. PHOTO: ST FILE He noted that productivity of his group is down by at least 20 per cent owing to the manpower shortage and safe management measures, and added that he has also raised workers' wages by 10 to 15 per cent in a bid to retain them. Mr Quek said the group will likely reduce its exposure to long-term, big projects that run into the hundreds of millions. "I think those will be very risky. With an expected continued manpower crunch, I think costs will get higher. There's also the risk of a second wave (of infections). I don't know how many companies would be able to withstand another shock like that." Meanwhile, the Singapore Retailers Association's president R. Dhinakaran said many retailers had hoped for at least 25 per cent wage support, since overheads such as rent in many cases remain the same but sales are still down. Many firms are "aggressively marking down" their goods to get more cash flow to meet these overheads, and this is not sustainable. More on this topic   Related Story What is the Jobs Support Scheme?   Related Story Some firms fear they won't survive without Jobs Support Scheme, others pin hopes on taking new directions Recovering Food and beverage operators had hoped the JSS would last till the vaccination of Singapore's population was complete, the Restaurant Association of Singapore said. A spokesman noted that sales across the industry are still 50 to 80 per cent of pre-Covid levels, adding that safe management measures had effectively cut seating capacity by 30 to 40 per cent. But the latest wage support would "no doubt help the forward-looking F&B brands who have pivoted their business model to the new normal", such as those that stepped up on online marketing and deliveries, or introduced virtual brands and ready-to-cook products. News of the wage support was a "pleasant surprise" to Foodtech F&B Ventures' chief executive Serene Ang, whose company runs four restaurants and over a dozen kiosks across the island. The cost savings from earlier tranches of wage support had helped the firm to hire more locals and train existing staff. PHOTO: ST FILE She said the cost savings from earlier tranches of wage support had helped the firm to hire more locals and train existing staff. It also increased staff wages. She said: "The whole industry is very thirsty for staff, since foreigners can't come in as freely as before. "A part-time ground service crew member working 36 to 40 hours a week used to be paid $1,500 a month, but I'm now paying up to $1,800 just to keep them there. The Malaysian workers stuck here are in greater demand than ever." Ms Ang is cautious about expanding and said she will think twice about renewing some outlets' leases, especially if the company can secure cheaper rent elsewhere. RAS' spokesman said the shortage of suitable manpower in F&B is a "major constraint that needs to be further addressed". "We hope the Government will continue to monitor and make adjustments to relevant policies if the situation does not improve in spite of higher wages and enhanced working conditions." More on this topic   Related Story Wage support helps manufacturing, security, biomed sectors recover   Related Story What will happen to some firms when wage subsidies under Jobs Support Scheme end

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$11b Resilience package to help Singapore bounce back

A total of $11 billion will be set aside for a Covid-19 Resilience Package which will support a three-pronged approach to help Singapore bounce back from Covid-19. It will address immediate needs to safeguard public health and reopen the economy safely, support workers and businesses, and target specific sectors under stress, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday. "The global economy is projected to recover to pre-Covid-19 levels this year, but the recovery is uneven across countries and sectors," he said. "The Singapore economy is projected to grow between 4 per cent and 6 per cent, with some sectors growing well, and others remaining under stress." The $11 billion will be used to support the recovery process. Of this, $4.8 billion will go towards safeguarding public health, including providing everyone who is eligible with free vaccination against the virus. The national vaccination programme and the medicines for those infected will cost $1 billion. The bulk of the money allocated to public health - $3.1 billion - will be used for testing, clinical management of those who become sick, and contact tracing to identify people who might have become infected, to prevent spread and clusters forming. Another $5 billion will be used to support workers and businesses, with the lion's share of $2.9 billion going to the Jobs Support Scheme. Singapore has already committed $25 billion to this scheme, supporting more than 150,000 employers for up to 17 months. Of the $2.9 billion allocated to the Jobs Support Scheme, $700 million was announced yesterday, while $2.2 billion had been promised in August last year. Said Mr Heng: "As the situation improved, I tapered support for sectors that were recovering well, and extended support to harder-hit sectors." The third tranche of $1.2 billion will be used to support specific sectors that have been especially badly hit by the fallout from the pandemic. The aviation sector will get $870 million. Another $45 million will go towards helping the arts and culture, and sports sectors; and $133 million has been set aside for the taxi and private-hire car drivers under a relief fund announced in December. But these measures alone will not be enough to secure Singapore's future because "the Covid-19 pandemic has triggered global shifts on the economic, social and political fronts, on a scale arguably greater than the 1929 Great Depression". "It has set off new domains for competition and cooperation," said Mr Heng, who promised to pump in $24 billion over the next three years to "enable our firms and workers to emerge stronger". The changing competitive landscape, rising inequalities and importance of sustainability "are all mega-shifts, that will continue to reshape the world". What will distinguish Singapore from other countries recovering from the pandemic are the investments in the future. He said: "We will invest in our people, so they can bounce back and be ready for opportunities that arise; and we will invest in our businesses, so they can innovate, build deep capacities and seize growth opportunities. "Singapore must never stop thinking of the future, even as we respond swiftly to meet current needs. This is how we stay exceptional, and staying exceptional is how we survive," he said. Efforts will span several years and build on the transformation push started five years ago with the industry transformation maps. The idea was for integration of the different restructuring efforts, and to deepen partnerships between Government and industry. The maps span a diversity of activities from healthcare and education to transport, retail and manufacturing. But the immediate focus, Mr Heng said, is to grow a vibrant business community, help businesses to transform and grow, create new opportunities and redesign jobs.

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