June 23, 2022

 

Singapore chicken slaughterhouses to receive one month foreign worker levy waiver

 

The Singapore government will provide chicken slaughterhouses in the country with a one month foreign worker levy waiver to support employers and preserve industry capabilities, especially after the poultry sector was affected by Malaysia's chicken export ban, The Straits Times reported.

 

The move, which is a part of a SGD 1.5 billion (~US$1.07 billion; SGD 1 = US$0.72) support package, aids Singapore's 11 chicken slaughterhouses, some of which had to halt production lines and place staff on leave as a result of the export ban.

 

On June 1, Malaysia banned the export of chicken due to a shortage there. Exports were halted to allow the market to stabilise its prices and supply.

 

34% of Singapore's chicken supply comes from Malaysia, according to the Singapore Food Agency. The majority of the Malaysian supply is slaughtered here after being imported live.

 

The ban on commercial broiler chicken exports, which accounts for the majority of Singapore's chicken imports from Malaysia, remains in place despite Malaysia partially lifting its ban on exports last week and allowing the exports of kampung chicken and black chicken.

 

Koh Poh Koon, Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Manpower, acknowledged that the ban has had a direct impact on chicken slaughterhouses, whose employees' livelihoods depend on the slaughter of live chickens.

 

Ma Chin Chew, chief executive officer of Hup Heng Poultry Industries, said his company's slaughterhouse facilities' productivity is down by 80%.

 

He said employees have not been forced to take time off, but working hours have been reduced from eight to nine hours per day to two to three hours. The business continues to give its employees full-time salaries.

 

Ma said the government's support measure will definitely help to tide over this trying time, adding that sales have decreased by 60–70%, and operations are at a minimum.

 

Ma, who is also secretary of Singapore's Poultry Merchants' Association, said that there have been discussions with Indonesian suppliers and the authorities about possibly importing live chickens from Indonesia.

 

He said there are still logistics and transportation issues to be resolved, but they can match Malaysia's chicken supply to Singapore.

 

Dr Koh said the government has been closely collaborating with business partners and trade associations to increase alternative chicken supplies in Singapore and has also assisted affected stallholders in switching to frozen or thawed frozen chicken as alternatives.

 

-      The Straits Times