As of Oct 31, the government had channeled RM12.5bil under the programme, helping 2.7 million workers and more than 330,000 employers, Abd Rahim says. — Bernama file photo
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 15): The Wage Subsidy Programme implemented over the past nine months involves an allocation of more than RM15 billion, said Deputy Finance Minister I Datuk Abd Rahim Bakri.
As of Oct 31, the government had channeled RM12.5bil under the programme, helping 2.7 million workers and more than 330,000 employers, he said.
“Given that many workers are still affected by the Covid-19 pandemic especially the tourism sector, the government, through Budget 2021, has extended the implementation of the Wage Subsidy Programme for an additional three months specifically for the tourism sector, including the retail sector, by providing RM600 per month for workers earning RM4,000 and below.
“Furthermore, the limit in number of employees eligible to receive the wage subsidy per employer has been raised from 200 employees to 500,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to Datuk Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli’s (PH-Lumut) question on whether the government was planning to increase the number of wage subsidy recipients and extend the programme’s period until the end of the pandemic.
Abd Rahim said the additional RM1.5 billion allocated for the programme was expected to benefit 70,000 employers and 900,000 employees.
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz announced the extension of the Wage Subsidy Programme with a more targeted approach during the tabling of Budget 2021 last month. – Bernama
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