1.6 million to receive special payment of RM500 today

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 1.6 million civil servants will receive a special payment of RM500 today while one million retirees will receive RM250 as announced in the 2016 Budget.

A Public Service Department (PSD) circular said the special payment would be given to all civil servants who served in 2015.

“It is on the condition the employee had served at least 30 consecutive days, including all types of leave with fully and partially paid leave, weekly rest days, weekly holidays and public holidays from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2015,” the circular stated.

Civil servants appointed permanently, temporarily, contract of service, interim teachers and those who went on half pay leave are eligible for the special payment.

It involves an allocation of RM645mil as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the 2016 Budget tabled on Oct 23 last year.

In appreciation of the dedication and contribution of civil servants, the Government has agreed to allocate RM1.1bil for the salary increment equivalent to one annual increment according to grades.

The circular said the Government would also improve 252 salary schemes for 406,000 civil servants and set the minimum starting salary at RM1,200 per month.

The minimum pension was set at RM950 per month involving some 50,000 retirees with at least 25 years of service. Implementation of these measures will be effective July 1 this year with an allocation of RM1.4bil.

Cuepacs president Datuk Azih Muda thanked the Government for the special payment.

“Civil servants have been waiting for this special payment as it can reduce their financial burden,” he said. — Bernama