SOCSO has channelled financial assistance amounting to RM629.2mil through the Employees Insurance Scheme (EIS) since March 18 last year until Nov 5 this year, says Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim.

       He said the financial assistance was used for job search allowances, amounting to RM588.5mil, reduced income allowances (RM6.9mil) and early re-employment allowances (RM33.8mil), reported Bernama.

       “Based on 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 told Su Keong Siong (PH-Kampar).

       Su wanted to know the number of claims and the payment amount 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 RM324.6mil 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 jobs.

       To a question by Charles Anthony 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 Wage Consultative Technical Committee had held consultations and engagement sessions with employers’ representatives, employers’ organisations, workers’ representatives, trade unions and the public for input on the impact of the minimum wage implementation on the country’s socio-economy.

       “The review 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 minimum wage increase on micro, small and medium enterprises.

       “Therefore, the increase in minimum wage implementation should be done in stages so as not to put pressure on and burden the employers. This would affect the company’s operations and expose employees to the risk of losing their jobs,” he added.

       He said the National Wage Consultative Council, which met on Dec 9, was in the process of preparing a paper to be submitted to the cabinet.