THIS year's Budget, with its generous buffet of rebates and top-ups to defray rising living costs, has put a smile on the faces of many Singaporeans, observes MP Zaqy Mohamad.

But he bemoans the lack of help for companies struggling to cope with cost increases.

'No matter how much you help consumers and the population at large, escalating business costs could translate into structural inflation - and people will end up losing jobs,' said the MP for Hong Kah GRC, ahead of the start of the Budget debate in Parliament on Monday.

Hence, he is hoping the Government will introduce measures to lower such costs as rent and foreign worker levies.

Mr Zaqy is among 61 MPs who will take to the floor during the debate, Parliament's annual marathon that kicks off about a week after the Finance Minister presents the Budget.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam delivered it on Feb 15, his first after taking over the portfolio from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last November.

The first two or three days of the sittings will focus on the Budget statement, before Parliament evolves into what is called the Committee of Supply to scrutinise each ministry's budget and policies.

Many of the speeches during the debate are expected to revolve around one burning issue: inflation.

Although unemployment has plunged to a 10-year low and the average worker's bonus soared to a 17-year high, costlier food, transport and health care drove inflation to a 25-year high of 4.4 per cent last December.

MPs are also expected to speak extensively on the topic of adult training, in light of a new national masterplan to bolster the Singapore workforce through continuing education and training.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.