Tatapyasan ng sahod ng Singaporean government ang ilang opisyal ng pamahalaan dahil sa krisis na idinulot ng novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak sa kanilang bansa.
Sa pagsasara ng debate sa Parliament ng budget para sa national government, sinabi ni Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Kat na babawasan nila ang isang buwang sahod ng lahat ng minister o cabinet officials, pati na ang iba pang nakaupo sa political office.
Ayon kay Heng na nagsisilbi ring Finance minister ng bansa, maging si Singaporean Pres. Halimah Yacob ay nag-presenta rin na tapyasan ang kanyang sahod.
“Our citizens and institutions all play a part: Enterprises and senior managements standing with unions and our workers, landlords supporting tenants, neighbours looking out for one another, political leaders working hand in hand with the public service and the people, to do everything that will help us see this problem through together,” ani Heng.
“Singapore has been able to respond strongly and effectively to COVID-19 because there is strong trust between the people and the Government, and the sense that we are all in this together.”
Hindi naman maaapektuhan ng salary cut ang mga opisyal na nangunguna para mapigilan ang pagkalat pa ng sakit.
Katunayan makakatanggap pa ang mga ito ng isang buwang special bonus.
Kabilang sa mga ito ang healthcare officers, mga opisyal ng front-line agencies at buong Health ministry.
“Our front-line workers, especially healthcare workers in the restructured hospitals, have shown outstanding courage and dedication. They are out there making daily sacrifices to fight this war against the unknown,” dagdag pa ng opisyal.
Naintindihan naman ng ilang opisyal ang desisyon ng Deputy Prime Minister.
Ayon kay Senior Prime Minister Lam Pin Min, tama lang ang hakbang bilang pagkilala sa healthcare workers na nagsa-sakripisyo para malabanan ang COVID-19.
Pareho rin ang sentimyento ni Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen na pinuri ang special bonus na aniya’y dapat matanggap ng kanilang healthcare workers./Independent News, SG
