Singtel directors to take 10% fee cut “in show of solidarity”

Singtel’s board of directors will take a 10% fee cut for the upcoming financial year in “a show of solidarity” as the Singapore telco announced measures to support businesses and consumers amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.

The company is also helping small and medium sized businesses who have employees working from home by offering them six months of free usage of productivity, collaboration and security tools.

“The businesses we depend on, the way we live our lives have been completely upended. People are having to stay home, businesses are trying to cope and survive,” said Singtel group chief executive officer Chua Sock Koong.

These are not the first measures Singtel has taken in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, having announced a wage freeze across the company, except operational and support staff, as part of its cost-cutting exercise.

To support consumers and with more people spending more time at home during this period, Singtel is also offering three months’ free access to some of its television channels for all Singapore residents. These include its Cast streaming app as well as its most popular entertainment and education channels such as Discovery, Asian Food Network, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon.

“We want to offer up some of our services to sustain and support the public through this time. This is our way of saying we are in this together,” Chua added.