Malaysia will provide cash assistance of RM600 a month to workers who are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic under a revised economic stimulus package. Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced this after the Economic Action Council (EAC) met in Putrajaya this afternoon. He said employees who are forced to take unpaid leave will receive financial assistance of RM600 each month for a maximum period of six months. Workers who are given notice to take unpaid leave beginning March 1 will be eligible for the financial assistance. “This involves an allocation of RM120mil, and as many as 33,000 workers are targeted to receive this benefit, ” he said during a press conference.
He added that affected employees with salaries under RM4,000 a month are also allowed to withdraw from the Employee Insurance System (EIS).
Meanwhile, the RM200 payment for Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) recipients will be brought forward to March 16 from its initial date in May. “The BSH payments amounting to RM760mil will benefit 3.8 million BSH households.” Tan Sri Muhyiddin also announced that an additional RM100 will be paid to BSH recipients later in May, adding that it will involve RM500mil which will benefit five million BSH recipients.
The government has also decided to give a 2% discount to all power consumers in commercial, industrial and agriculture as well as domestic sectors, he said. This will take effect for a period of six month beginning April 1 to September 30. The discount will involve an allocation of RM500mil and will benefit 10 million users. “The government will ensure the economic stimulus package that was announced will be implemented fully.
