RM366.37m channeled to 107k who lost jobs last year - Zafrul

 

The Employment Insurance System under the Social Security Organisation (Socso) has channelled RM366.37 million to over 107,000 individuals who lost their jobs in 2020, said Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

As of March 14 this year, he said Socso had helped more than 18,000 workers who lost their jobs by channelling financial assistance of RM85.96 million.

“This amount is inclusive of the improved Job Seeker Allowance that was announced under the 2021 Budget,” he said at the 46th inter-agency economic stimulus implementation and coordination unit (Laksana) report today.

Zafrul said RM565.4 million was channelled based on almost 1.65 million claims under the Frontliners Allowance announced via the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (Prihatin) to physicians, nurses, and other medical personnel directly involved in the management and containment of the Covid-19 outbreak, as of March 12.

He said this special allowance was also extended to members of the army, police, customs, immigration, fire department, the Civil Defence Force, and Rela who have been directly involved in implementing the movement control order.

“As of Jan 15, under Permai (Malaysian Economic and Rakyat’s Protection Assistance Package), 3,591 contract health workers were approved to cover urgent personnel needs following the increase in Covid-19 cases.

“As of March 15, 2,586 health workers including scientific officers, diagnostic radiologists, medical laboratory technologists, assistant environmental health officers, assistant medical officers, and nurses were appointed,” he said.

He added that the remaining 1,005 contract health workers are still being screened and hiring is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

Zafrul said 137,075 participants were approved to join in reskilling and upskilling programmes as of March 12.

As for the special Cendana initiative for the creative industry, RM2.16 million was channelled to 393 recipients including artists and organisations actively involved in Malaysian arts and culture, he added.

- Bernama