Extend the social welfare aid to 2 other categories, says MTUC

By ANIS FARHANAH MALEK
anisfarhanah@dagangnews.com

KUALA LUMPUR 1 Sept. – In line with the social welfare aid proposal to be tabled at the Parliamentary meeting tomorrow, Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) urges the Cabinet to extend it to two other category of Malaysians.

It involves the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) pension recipients who get amounts much lower than RM2,000 per month and the B40 workers who earn salaries which are less than RM4,000 a month.

MTUC Secretary-General, J. Solomon said, the proposal does not require any passing of laws but just a Cabinet decision and internal circulars would suffice once the Finance Ministry sources the funds.

“The MTUC hopes that it will not be another long-drawn study before its implementation as the people on the ground are indeed suffering, with the cost of living having gone up because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So not much feedback or studies are necessary as the Social Welfare Department will have the database of those eligible. 

"In the same token, the Prime Minister’s admission that these category of workers are suffering is a tacit admission that the current minimum wage of RM1,200 per month is obsolete. This was further confirmed after the government raised the Poverty Line Index from a monthly household income of RM980 to a realistic level of RM2208 two months ago.

"The B40 group should be given allowance until the wages are fixed as a living wage of RM2700 as recommended by the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) in 2018," said him in a statement today.

Previously, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin personally wants the Social Welfare Department’s monthly aid of between RM200 and RM300 for needy people be raised to RM1,000.

Hence, MTUC welcomes it and hopes the Cabinet will unanimously agree to the proposed rise on these allowances.

Solomon added, while the B40 workers can be assisted with the special aid monthly until the COVID-19 pandemic is declared under control and a vaccine is found, all SOCSO pensioners should be entitled for this aid permanently.

“We would like to reiterate that for any government to remain in power, it is vital for it to ensure the welfare of the 15 million workers in the country is handled with care as they involve all Malaysians directly or indirectly.

“As such, let us remind the Cabinet Ministers that all Malaysians would be watching tomorrow to see if the PM’s meaningful suggestion will get the nod of all Cabinet ministers and hopefully implemented as soon as possible albeit on a broader scale to help those stuck in the B40 group and can barely fend for their families,” said him. – DagangNews.com