The Social Security Organisation (Socso) will loosen up several conditions concerning the Wage Subsidy Programme.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin recently announced the extension of the Wage Subsidy Programme under the National Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana).

In a statement, Socso said among the conditions relaxed in the Wage Subsidy Programme includes allowing flexibility of reducing existing working hours or salary with the approval of workers as well as involving an agreement between employers and employees

Other than the Wage Subsidy Programme, Socso chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohamad stated that Socso was also extending the coverage and re-focusing the Employment Retention Programme (ERP) for workers on unpaid leave.

The Prime Minister recently unveiled 40 initiatives under the RM35 billion Penjana Economic Recovery Plan.

Socso will also focus on businesses that were forbidden from operating during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) phase, including tourism-related industries such as air airlines and hoteliers.

"With a RM5 billion allocation, the Wage Subsidy Programme would be extended for an additional three months with subsidies worth RM600 per worker to cover about 2.7 million workers."

He said Socso would also help the government in addressing Malaysia’s unemployment issues and would encourage job creation through the implementation of the Hiring Incentive Programme or Penjana Kerjaya, which involves a RM1.5 billion allocation.

"The hiring incentive will be granted to employers ranging between RM600 and RM1,000 should they hire apprentices, unemployed individuals, as well as under-represented groups such as persons with disabilities and an older workforce.

"This programme includes providing reskilling or upskilling opportunities for job seekers, including non-Socso contributors, in collaboration with the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF).

"Under this programme, job seekers having to relocate interstate to accept job offers will be provided a mobility allowance," he said, adding that the initiatives outlined in Penjana would help revitalise the nation's labour market.

Over 15,000 people lost their jobs in the first quarter of 2020

On the matching grant programme for gig economy workers, Azman said the government would allocate RM50 million, which would cover 30,000 gig economy workers minimum.

"The matching grant will be disbursed at a 70:30 ratio or approximately RM162.96 per gig worker for employment injury coverage for one year under the Socso Self-Employment Social Security Scheme."

Azman also said that Socso would also like to reassure both employers and employees that the agency would continue to protect employees who are involved in work-related accidents or deaths while working at home under the Employment Injury Scheme.

"The protection aims to support and encourage labour activity as well as flexible working arrangements, including working from home (WFH) among employees amid the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.

Socso’s CEO said all initiatives would be implemented effective June 15 and updates regarding hiring incentives will be made available at www.penjanakerjaya.perkeso.gov.my.

The Prime Minister recently unveiled 40 initiatives under the RM35 billion Penjana Economic Recovery Plan. He announced that Malaysia would be moving towards the Covid-19 recovery phase with the implementation of Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) replacing the CMCO.

Source: New Straits Times

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