By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 13: Civil servants Grade 56 and below, including contract appointments, will receive a RM2,000 early incentive as part of the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) review.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also announced that all key public sector employees including police, firemen, armed forces and uniformed bodies will get RM1,000.
Additionally, a RM1,000 incentive will also be extended to all government pensioners including veterans with and without pensions.
“This payment will be made in one lump sum at the end of February 2024 to ease the burden of the children’s school preparation as well as preparation for the months of Ramadan and Syawal,” he said when tabling Budget 2024 in the Dewan Rakyat which was broadcast live on national televisions today.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, informed that the government is in the process of reviewing the salary and fixed allowance scheme for public servants, a review that has been long overdue since the last update in 2012.
“The SSPA review will assess the needs of all service schemes and is expected to be finalised by the end of next year.
Furthermore, Anwar called upon private employers to also review their remuneration and rewards for employees, taking into account the current cost of living and challenges.
He emphasised that the government plans to intensify engagement sessions with the private sector in the coming year and encouraged companies with reasonable profits to provide suitable rewards for their employees.
In addition, the unity government has agreed that the coverage of the Work Accident Ex-Gratia Scheme should be improved and the salary ceiling limit should be increased from RM4,000 to RM6,000 in line with the Perkeso Scheme amendment for the private sector.
“The increase in the salary ceiling allows the rate of interest payments under the scheme to increase by up to 50 per cent or around RM1.6 million.
“In other words, civil servants or heirs will enjoy higher compensation claims in the event of an accident while on duty,” he added. — DayakDaily
