More Singapore firms turn to 'pay now, work later' practice to avoid job cuts

On the practice of time-banking, which allows employees to be paid now for work to be done later, a Ministry of Manpower spokesman said it is a "viable way for employers to manage costs and optimise the use of manpower, while supporting their employees with full pay during business downtime". - ST

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Mary (not her real name) a manicurist, was relieved - even grateful - when her employer told her that she would be receiving her full basic pay of S$2,100 last month and this month as many of her friends had their salaries cut or were laid off amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

Soon, though, she was disappointed after her boss told staff they would have to "return the working hours" by putting in 50 hours of overtime when business resumed after the end of the circuit breaker. Her 14 days of annual leave entitlement would also be reduced to seven days.