Beef up Socso’s job search scheme, says Najib

 

Participants at a career fair held by Mida and Socso in August. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak has called for improvements to a job search scheme by the Social Security Organisation (Socso), suggesting that allowances paid and the duration of payments be reviewed.

He said the government must conduct studies and consider improving the job scheme “because it looks like this Covid-19 problem is set to last for a while. The people have no choice. They can only hope in the government”.

Najib said he came up with the employment insurance scheme to help the people at a time of economic instability. “Now we are facing an extraordinary economic crisis because of Covid-19,” he said.

Socso pays an allowance to those out of work. Payments are made over a minimum of three months and a maximum of six months to help the jobless while they seek fresh employment.

For the first month, they will be paid 80% of their monthly assumed wage, followed by 50% in the second month, 40% in the third and fourth months, and 30% in the 5th and 6th months.

Those earning more than RM4,000 will be capped at a monthly assumed wage of RM3,950.

After the first payment, applicants will also be required to prove that they are actively looking for jobs in the meantime in order to receive the subsequent instalments. - FMT