Deputy human resources minister Awang Hashim said the financial assistance were for job search allowance, amounting to RM588.5 million, reduced income allowance (RM6.9 million), and early re-employment allowance (RM33.8 million).
“Based on the EIS statistics, the number of applications for the benefits from March 18, 2020 to Nov 5, 2021 was 148,926 and out of that, 119,500 applications were approved,” he said in response to a question from Su Keong Siong (PH-Kampar) during the question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Su wanted to know the number of claims and the amount of payments made by Socso under EIS.
According to Awang, 55,742 people lost their jobs from January to Nov 5 this year and a total of RM324.6 million had been approved for the payment of benefits to the individuals involved.
Meanwhile, he said almost 90% of individuals who applied for jobs through the MYFutureJobs portal were able to get a job.
To a question by Charles Santiago (PH-Klang) on the government’s plan to increase the minimum wage to RM1,500, Awang said the National Wages Consultative Council had implemented the Review of the Minimum Wages Order 2020.
He said the National Wages Consultative Technical Committee had held consultations and engagement sessions with employers’ representatives, employers’ organisations, workers’ representatives, trade unions and the public to obtain input on the impact of the minimum wage implementation on the country’s socio-economy.
“The review process also takes into account socio-economic indicators such as poverty line income, median wages (employers’ ability to pay wages), unemployment rate, labour productivity and changes in the consumer price index that reflect the cost of living.
“These socio-economic indicators will reflect the current labour market,” he added.
He said the government was concerned with the impact of the increase in the minimum wage rate on micro, small and medium-enterprises (MSME).
“Therefore, the increase in the minimum wage should be implemented in stages so as not to put pressure on employers and burden them as well as to affect the company’s operations and expose employees to the risk of losing their jobs ” he added.
He said the National Wages Consultative Council which met on Dec 9 was in the process of preparing a paper to be submitted to the Cabinet.