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Tag: vouchers

  • Singapore Announces $230 Boost in Living Support Vouchers Amid Rising Mid-East Conflict Costs

    Singapore Announces $230 Boost in Living Support Vouchers Amid Rising Mid-East Conflict Costs

    In response to escalating costs associated with the Middle East conflict, the government of Singapore has announced its intention to provide each household with an additional allotment of Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers, valued at SGD 300 (USD 230). This additional distribution, set for January of next year, supplements the SGD 500 in CDC vouchers that were disbursed recently.

    Voucher Distribution and Utility Rebates

    Fifty percent of these vouchers can be utilized at select local merchants and food stalls, with the remainder to be used at participating supermarkets. The validity of these vouchers extends until December 31, 2027. Alongside these vouchers, eligible households can anticipate double the usual amount in U-Save utility rebates in October of this year and in January of the next. These rebates will range from SGD 110 to SGD 190.

    These additional vouchers and rebates are part of a SGD 900 million assistance package designed to alleviate the burden of heightened energy costs linked to the Middle East conflict. This package represents the second round of support measures initiated by the government in response to the conflict, following an initial SGD 1 billion package launched in April. The first package expedited the delivery of CDC vouchers and provided SGD 200 in cash to workers in the platform industry, private-hire car drivers, and taxi drivers. It also increased a cash assistance program called the Cost-of-Living Special Payment, enabling eligible Singaporean adults to receive SGD 400 to SGD 600 in September.

    Economic Forecast and Support Measures

    Despite a stronger than anticipated performance from Singapore’s economy, which saw a 6.3% growth in the first quarter and an estimated 5.7% growth in the second quarter, the government continues to listen to sectors of the economy indicating the need for ongoing assistance. Predicting the future is challenging given the considerable uncertainty over the coming months, and it remains unclear whether current economic conditions will deteriorate or if strong economic performance will continue.

    Implemented in 2020 and subsequently expanded, the CDC vouchers have been distributed annually to assist households in managing increasing living costs and to support businesses. Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Low Yen Ling, reported that between January and July 28, households have spent about SGD 1.03 billion worth of CDC vouchers and SG60 vouchers which were distributed last year to celebrate Singapore’s 60th anniversary.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the purpose of the Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers?
    The CDC vouchers were introduced by the Singapore government to help households manage rising living costs and to support local businesses.

    Who are the recipients of the CDC vouchers and the U-Save utility rebates?
    Every household in Singapore is eligible to receive the CDC vouchers. The U-Save utility rebates are given to specific households that meet certain criteria.

    How can the CDC vouchers be used?
    Half of these vouchers can be used at eligible local merchants and food stalls, and the remaining half can be spent at participating supermarkets.

  • Ease Your Cost-of-Living: Singaporean Households Grab $390 Support Vouchers!

    Ease Your Cost-of-Living: Singaporean Households Grab $390 Support Vouchers!

    From June 11, all Singaporean households will be eligible to receive S$500 (US$380) in Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers. This initiative is set to ease the financial burden of living costs for approximately 1.38 million households across the country.

    Voucher Validity and Usage

    The CDC vouchers can be claimed online via the official website and remain valid until the end of 2027. They can be used across a broad range of establishments, half of which are participating local merchants and hawkers. The remaining vouchers are applicable at around 400 outlets run by eight major supermarket chains throughout Singapore. These include Ang Mo Supermarket, Cold Storage, Giant Singapore, HAO Mart, NTUC FairPrice, Prime Supermarket, Sheng Siong, and U Stars Supermarket.

    This allotment of vouchers was originally set to be distributed in January 2027, as per Singapore’s 2026 national budget. However, it was advanced by six months to help households manage the cost-of-living pressures exacerbated by the ongoing Middle East conflict.

    About the Voucher Scheme

    The CDC voucher program was established in 2020 and expanded the following year. It was devised to aid households in managing living expenses while simultaneously supporting businesses hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. These vouchers have been distributed annually, with this latest disbursement marking the ninth cycle.

    As of June 3, more than $4.64 billion has been utilized through the previous eight CDC voucher rounds and two rounds of SG60 vouchers. The SG60 vouchers were similarly designed and distributed last year in celebration of Singapore’s 60th anniversary. About $2.43 billion, or 52% of the total sum, was spent at local merchants and hawkers, while the remaining was used in supermarkets.

    Over 94% of the 1.36 million eligible households claimed the most recent S$300 voucher tranche disbursed in January. More than 80% of these claimed vouchers have already been spent, indicating a high utilization rate. The CDC voucher scheme has proven to be both practical and accessible to the Singaporean populace.

    Alongside the CDC vouchers, a S$200 increase to a cash handout scheme known as the Cost-of-Living Special Payment was announced in April. Consequently, qualifying Singaporean adults will receive a payout of S$400-600 in September, an increase from the previous S$200-400.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the purpose of the CDC voucher scheme?
    The CDC voucher scheme was designed to assist households in coping with living costs while also supporting local businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Where can the CDC vouchers be used?
    Half of the vouchers can be used at participating local merchants and hawkers, while the remainder can be spent at around 400 outlets run by eight major supermarket chains throughout Singapore.

    When will eligible Singaporean adults receive the Cost-of-Living Special Payment?
    Eligible Singaporean adults will receive the Cost-of-Living Special Payment, which has been increased to S$400-600, in September.

  • Ease Your Commute: Singapore Offers $46 Public Transport Vouchers to Qualifying Households

    Ease Your Commute: Singapore Offers $46 Public Transport Vouchers to Qualifying Households

    Singaporean households that meet the eligibility criteria can now submit their applications for public transport vouchers valued at S$60 (equivalent to US$46). These vouchers are intended to alleviate the increased cost of commuting.

    Details of the Voucher Scheme

    The vouchers became available on Tuesday and will continue to be so until October 31. The eligibility requirement is set at a monthly household income per person of S$1,800 or lower.

    This move signifies the second phase of the program. The first round of vouchers was issued last month, benefitting approximately 300,000 households.

    In the current round, households that did not previously receive a voucher and those seeking additional assistance, including households that do not meet the income requirement, can apply. Applications can be submitted either online or in person at local community centers and clubs.

    These vouchers can be applied towards topping up fare cards or purchasing monthly passes. They are redeemable until March 31, 2027.

    The main goal of the initiative is to assist lower-income families in counterbalancing the recent increase in public transport fares.

    Changes in Public Transport Fares

    The basic bus and train card fares for adults in the city-state have seen a hike of 9-10 cents per trip, an approximate increase of 5% based on distance. At the same time, the express bus services have levied a surcharge, marking its first-ever introduction.

    In addition to the vouchers, the cost of monthly passes has been cut by 5% for adults, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities as a measure to support frequent users of public transit.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the purpose of the public transport vouchers?
    The vouchers are intended to help lower-income families mitigate the impact of the recent increase in public transportation fares.

    Who is eligible to apply for these vouchers?
    Families with a monthly household income per person of S$1,800 or lower can apply for these vouchers. In the latest round, even those households that didn’t receive a voucher in the first round or do not meet the income requirement can apply for additional assistance.

    How can these vouchers be used?
    These vouchers can be used to top up fare cards or to purchase monthly passes. They are redeemable until March 31, 2027.

  • Global Savings Group is launching discount code portal CupoNation in Indonesia

    Global Savings Group is launching discount code portal CupoNation in Indonesia

    The Global Savings Group (GSG), a Rocket Internet backed leading global provider of Commerce Content Solutions, launches its premium discount code portal CupoNation in Indonesia. The new portal will enable Indonesian users to save more on online shopping from leading retail stores and brands. It is now accessible for avid shoppers in Indonesia through its local website www.cuponation.co.id.

    The GSG is globally operating over 100 digital portals and tools that offer the right mix of product discovery, recommendations, deals and discounts to help consumers take smarter shopping decisions while enabling advertisers to reach high-intent users at scale. Following the successful establishment of CupoNation in Singapore (2013), Australia (2014), and Malaysia (2016), the brand has been quickly gaining popularity in Southeast Asia Pacific markets.

    Igor Shapiro, Managing Director Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe, says “We are convinced that Indonesia is the best next market to launch this platform. The launch of CupoNation in Indonesia will not only benefit online shoppers but also help e-commerce players and advertisers in generating significant value by attracting ‘discount savvy users’ to their portals, thereby increasing revenues.”

    Indonesia has a population of over 264 million and growing. The global professional services company Accenture expects the national internet penetration to grow to 50% by 2022.

    This forecasted significant increase in digitization and therefore digital commerce will be driven by Indonesia’s general positive development. The World Bank expects the GDP to continue to grow at an annual average of over 5 percent. Digital purchase is expected to grow by US$46.40 to US$78.10 per capita in the next four years. Furthermore, 74.1% of Indonesia’s online shoppers love discounts and will use them as a reason to purchase, the Accenture report reveals.

    “Indonesia has a fast growing economy with a fast-growing e-commerce market. Through launching CupoNation in Indonesia we are adding a globally proven commerce content solution to the local ecosystem, linking consumers and retailers, and fueling this growth. With our strong team, global insights, and local synergies we see across the South East Asian markets, we are confident about becoming the leading discount code portal in Indonesia in the next months”, adds Igor.

    Google and Temasek report that people in Southeast Asia spend more time on the mobile internet than anyone else on the planet. Indonesians spend 3.9 hours on the mobile internet, while U.S. users just spend 2 hours per day. According to GSMA Intelligence, there are 439 million registered mobile connections in Indonesia – a SIM penetration of 166%.

    That’s why CupoNation has come to Indonesia with a fully mobile responsive service, providing a comprehensive range of online coupons and deals across 13 categories. These categories supported by Indonesians’ most-loved online shops and brands such as Lazada, Zalora, Tokopedia, Bhinneka, Matahari Mall, Blibli, Bukalapak, and many more.

    Andreas Fruth, Managing Director and Co-Founder of the Global Savings Group, adds “We want to transform the way consumers buy and the way brands sell around the world. The launch of CupoNation in Indonesia is proof of our regional commitment, strengthening our position in the South East Asia Pacific markets and enhancing our global service offering, helping us to further improve our position as a global leading provider of commerce content solutions.”

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