By Media Selangor Team
SHAH ALAM, July 10 — More than 42,800 individuals had lost their jobs as of June 12, according to statistics from the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO).
The Human Resources Ministry said PERKESO recorded 42,807 individuals who had lost their jobs nationwide as of last month.
“During the same period, PERKESO approved 134,123 benefit claims under the LINDUNG Kerjaya initiative, involving a total recommended payout of RM248.23 million,” it said.
Responding to a question from Datuk Seri Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan), the ministry said the manufacturing sector recorded the highest number of job losses, with 8,702 cases, accounting for 20.7 per cent of the total.
“The ministry, through PERKESO, has introduced several strategic initiatives to ensure the effectiveness of the Employment Insurance System (SIP) as a dynamic, robust and sustainable social safety net,” it said.
Mohmed Puzi had asked about the impact of the global crisis and sought the latest statistics on workers who had lost their jobs by sector, as well as details on the total benefits disbursed under the Employment Insurance System (EIS) and government initiatives to protect affected workers.
The ministry said one such initiative is the Progressive Acceleration for Capability and Employment (PACE) Economic Resilience Package, which targets more than 56,000 workers who have lost their jobs for financial assistance.
It added that more than RM580 million had been allocated for re-employment interventions and employability support under the LINDUNG Kerjaya scheme.
From January to April 24 this year, a total of 2,697 insured persons were approved to participate in upskilling and reskilling programmes.
The ministry also said PERKESO organised 2,989 career carnival programmes between January and May 31, including daily and weekly interview sessions nationwide, attracting 86,594 job seekers.
In a related development, the ministry said the government is strengthening the Employment Insurance System Act 2017 (Act 800) by improving the benefit rates for the Early Re-employment Allowance (EBSA), Training Allowance (EL) and Training Fee (FL), while introducing a new Mobility Assistance Allowance.
“PERKESO continues to provide employment services, including career counselling, job search and job matching, which are proactively monitored by its Employment Services officers.
“The ministry is also expanding upskilling and reskilling programmes to help insured persons who have lost their jobs acquire new skills in line with current labour market demands,” it said.
