PETALING JAYA: Contributors under the Employment Insurance Scheme will receive enhanced benefits and protection of up to RM25,000 following amendments to the Employment Insurance System Act, says Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.
The Human Resources Minister said the changes, which come into force on Oct 1, also include higher allowances for workers returning to employment and those who relocate for work.
The amendments, passed by the Dewan Rakyat in December last year, seek to increase benefits for Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) contributors who lose their jobs and strengthen the governance of the scheme.
“The Early Re-Employment Allowance has been increased from 25% to 50%.
“Meanwhile, the mobility allowance will be paid as a one-off payment to those who have to relocate for work.
“If the distance is more than 100km, we will pay them RM1,000 as a one-off payment,” Ramanan said after launching the PERKESO iLINDUNG Mega Festival yesterday.
He added that the training allowance had also been increased to RM30 from RM10 previously, while the maximum training fee had been raised to RM7,000 from RM4,000.
On social protection for gig workers, Ramanan said a total of RM1.5mil had been contributed to provide coverage for 500 e-hailing drivers and p-hailing riders.
Of the total, Foodpanda contributed RM1mil, Grab RM500,000 and Halo RM14,412.40.
“Such cooperation shows that the government and industry can work together to ensure gig workers not only have opportunities to earn an income but are also protected.
“Behind every rider and driver is a family that depends on their income. This is why social protection is not something that can be taken lightly.
“As such, it is a crucial safety net when something unexpected happens,” he said.
The three-day festival, which began on Friday, also features a special Opt-in 24-hour Protection counter for workers who had previously opted out of the scheme to re-register.
At the festival, employers can enjoy discounts of up to 80% on late payment contribution interest, while visitors can check their contributions, seek advice on benefits and register for PERKESO schemes.
Ramanan said the festival, through MYFutureJobs, was also offering 2,000 job opportunities with salaries of up to RM12,000 from 25 employers.
“The ministry is with the people, and we carry a clear message: the public does not have to search for government services.
“Instead, we need to go to the ground, reach out to them, listen to their voices and bring solutions directly to the community,” he said.
