KUCHING, March 27: Malaysia Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has expressed content with the RM250 billion Prihatin economic stimulus package, which it believed for the first time, the government is extending assistance to M40.
Its secretary-general J Solomon, in a press statement, said MTUC welcomed the RM250 billion Prihatin economic stimulus package announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“In this package, the government has provided RM10 billion in cash handouts for the lower income B40 and middle income M40 groups to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is appreciated.
“Tan Sri Muhyiddin has announced a subsidy programme to help companies avoid retrenchment, which runs for three months. This involves employers suffering a dip in business of more than 50 per cent.
“Workers in these companies earning less than RM4,000 in salaries will get RM600 for three months. This is also the first time the government is extending assistance to the M40,” said Solomon.
He hoped the government will quickly release information on how the rakyat and workers can obtain the direct cash assistance announced today without much cumbersome procedures.
“We are also pleased that the government kept its pledge to help workers in the informal sectors as well as small traders, fishermen and rubber tappers. This will help them to some extent of keeping afloat in the coming months.”
MTUC also welcomed the freeze on rental collection for government housing units for six months.
“We are happy that for the first time this stimulus package has given reasonable emphasis on the rakyat, which MTUC has been embarking on ever since the breakout of the Covid-19 crisis.
“It is true as mentioned by the prime minister that all Malaysians are to stay united to overcome this crisis. We therefore trust the employers will extend cooperation for the aid given by the government for businesses and urge them to take serious note of the prime minister’s advice to avoid retrenchment and wage cut.” — DayakDaily
