Identities of semigroup rings over semilattices of completely (\(0\)- )simple semigroups (Q1902162)

In what follows \(R\) is an associative ring, \(S\) is a semigroup, \(E(S)\) is the set of all idempotents of \(S\), \(\langle X \rangle\) is the subsemigroup of \(S\) generated by \(X \subseteq S\), \(RS\) is the contracted semigroup ring of \(S\) over \(R\). In [\textit{F. Li}, Semigroup Forum 46, 27- 31 (1993; Zbl 0787.16024)] the following interesting problem is raised: suppose that \(S\) is a regular semigroup such that \(RS\) is a ring with identity; does it mean that \(R \langle E(S) \rangle\) is also a ring with identity (equivalently: does the identity of \(RS\) belong to \(R \langle E(S) \rangle)\)? In 1969 Wenger showed that, for \(S\) inverse, the answer is in the affirmative. In a previous paper the author proved that, for \(S\) orthodox, the problem mentioned also has a positive solution. In the present paper the same is proved for \(S\) a semilattice of completely \(0\)- simple and completely simple semigroups, in particular, for any \(S\) completely regular.