The Human Resources Ministry, through the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), will kick off a new initiative for workers in the private sector whose employers have been affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said under this new initiative, employers experiencing a fall in income of more than 50% since 1 January 2020 can claim from SOCSO. For a period of three months, employers can claim RM600 per worker. This is applicable for workers with monthly salaries of RM4,000 and below, who have registered and are contributing to EIS (Employment Insurance Scheme), he said in a statement. This wage subsidy will be credited directly into the employer’s account within seven days of application and approval. Employers can submit their applications via www.perkeso.gov.my.
In addition to relieving the burden of workers during these difficult times, Datuk Seri Saravanan said the new initiative would also help employers to retain existing employees without having to retrench them in the current challenging period. The Wage Subsidy Programme will be effective from April 1 2020. It is an extension of the Employment Retention Programme (ERP) that was announced in the Economic Stimulus Package 2020 on March 16. A total RM5.9bil has been allocated to the ministry through the EIS to implement the Wage Subsidy Programme that will benefit 3.3 million private sector workers in the country.
