\n<\/p>\n
Employers were also asked about what forms of support would be the most useful if energy prices remain elevated over the next 12 months.<\/span><\/p>\n The key support measures they identified are defraying business costs through tax relief or financing assistance (83 per cent), energy cost relief and subsidies (77 per cent), and delaying manpower policy changes that would add further cost pressures (55 per cent).<\/span><\/p>\n The responses reflect employers\u2019 concerns about the cumulative burden of higher business costs amid an already challenging operating environment, SNEF added.<\/span><\/p>\n Employers remain cautious about business outlook, with 39 per cent of respondents indicating a negative outlook for the next six to 12 months.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBeyond the immediate cost pressures, employers highlighted deeper concerns over growing disruption to global business and trade, noting that supply chains are being redrawn and investment decisions are becoming increasingly cautious,\u201d the federation noted.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe welcome the support measures already announced by the government, including the higher corporate income tax rebate,\u201d SNEF CEO Hao Shuo said.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c As the global economic situation remains quite fluid, we hope that the government will consider the prevailing economic conditions when implementing the earlier <\/span>announced<\/span> foreign manpower policy changes,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n