In conjunction with Labour Day, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has announced a slew of initiatives for Malaysian workers who have contributed immensely to the growth of the nation.
Among them includes the absorption of 80 per cent of the total contribution of self-employed individuals through the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme under the Social Security Organisation (Socso) with a target to benefit at least one million individuals.
In addition, there will also be the new Keluarga Malaysia Vehicle Insurance Financing programme, MyEzyCover.com introduced. It is a financing package in instalments of up to 10 months without any interest charges, offered to civil servants before the scheme is extended to the private sector. “This programme will be implemented by the Ministry of Human Resources in collaboration with Socso and Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad (Angkasa),” he said.
Ismail Sabri said the minimum salary of RM1,500 which came into effect today was a gift to the workers for their tireless dedication to developing the country’s economy. The Prime Minister said the government had also agreed to make it mandatory for the setting up of nurseries in public sector workplaces involving federal and state governments as well as statutory bodies before expanding it to the private sector.
According to him, the government has provided an annual grant of RM10 million in 2019 and RM30 million in 2020 for the initiative, to provide relief to employees with small children.
Apart from that, the Prime Minister said the reopening of the country’s borders provided space for the reemployment of foreign workers in certain sectors, especially in the 3D (dirty, dangerous and difficult) sector, but the move was not to alienate local workers.
He added that a comprehensive mechanism would be devised to reduce dependence on foreign workers so that locals are given priority. The Ministry of Human Resources has been asked to study this aspect so that local workers can benefit by improving salary rates, employment packages and career advancement,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said the government had also ratified Protocol 29 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as proof of its commitment to eliminate forced labour in Malaysia, thus ensuring that the country’s products and goods were no longer restricted from entering the international market for allegedly using forced labour.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said the government had also launched the UPSkills Malaysia portal for employees to improve their skills and made it a single reference centre that gathered information from 6,143 training providers covering 35 skill areas.
Apart from that, he said various initiatives had been implemented to ensure that the Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) could continue living, including the Wage Subsidy Programme (PSU) which helped more than 350,000 employers nationwide with an allocation of RM20.34 billion besides successfully retaining 2.95 million individuals in the employment sector.
He added that the government has also increased the ceiling of the insured monthly salary from RM4,000 to RM5,000 which has benefited nine million workers, especially Socso contributors, nationwide.
“The government is confident that the Keluarga Malaysia workers will remain resilient and continue to be strategic partners in developing the country’s economy.
“Once again, I would like to express my highest appreciation and wish Happy Workers’ Day to all employees, leaders and members of trade unions in the country,” said Ismail Sabri who also extended his Aidilfitri greetings to Keluarga Malaysia.
