Singapore Cocktail Bar Association Raises S$120,000 To Support Individual Bar Staff Through The SCBA-SBF Foundation Compassion Fund
The Singapore Cocktail Bar Association (SCBA) has raised a total of S$120,000 in the first of its COVID-19 relief funds. This first round of funds, dubbed The SCBA-SBF Foundation Compassion Fund, will provide direct financial relief to bar staff who are in need, especially those who have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic during this time.
A total of S$60,000 of the funds were raised from corporate sponsors, with Singapore Business Federation Foundation matching the amount in full through its industry-led Compassion Fund, which aims to strengthen businesses and support workers in need.
“We are incredibly grateful to our corporate sponsors as well as the Singapore Business Federation Foundation for contributing to our first round of relief. The SCBA-SBF Foundation Compassion Fund will render direct financial support to up to 240 bar staff in our cocktail community,” says Gan Guoyi, President and Founding Board Member of SCBA.
Mr. Hsieh Fu Hua, Chairman of the SBF Foundation said, “This is our inaugural effort to rally SBF members and industry leaders to care for our employees, workers and the community at large. We aim to have the SBF Foundation Compassion Fund form the framework for our members to pool resources and collectively support employees in need. I am grateful to SCBA for leading the cocktail bar community to support the employees in times of need.”
Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and Work Pass Holders who have suffered job loss and are in the midst of transiting between employers within the cocktail industry with SCBA’s support, or who have suffered salary reductions of 30% or more between 1 April to 30 June 2020 can now apply for the SCBA-SBF Foundation Compassion Fund. The relief amount is capped at S$500 per individual whose salary is no more than S$3,400 a month. Applicants must be currently or previously employed by SCBA’s member bars. Since its inception in May 2020, SCBA has recruited over 50 member bars, across three key categories: Cocktail Bars, Restaurant Bars and Spirit Bars. All bars must fulfill a preset list of admission criteria.
Aside from the SCBA-SBF Foundation Compassion Fund, SCBA is currently raising funds for a second and third round of relief, which will directly support member bars themselves. The Association aims to finalise sponsorship for these initiatives, the New Bar Support Fund and the Industry Recovery Fund, before the end of August 2020.
SCBA will also be launching first a series of “SCBA Recovery Talks” from 24 August 2020. The talks aim to provide counsel and insights that will help the industry stay on course for recovery. These talks will go live on
www.facebook.com/sgcocktailbarassociation.
For more information and to apply for The SCBA-SBF Foundation Compassion Fund, go to www.sgcocktailbarassociation.org. All applications will be kept confidential.
