EIS: Relief for terminated workers

KUALA LUMPUR: Losing a job was something completely unexpected by Suhaimi Abu Bakar, 42, especially after four years of excellent service.

He seemed to have lost his direction when he was informed of his termination as a driver at a construction company due to the downsizing of the company’s operations earlier this year.

But like the light at the end of the tunnel, the military retiree was told by his employer concerning the Employment Insurance System (EIS) which could be applied through the Social Security Organisation (Socso).

“At first I was worried of losing my source of income to support my wife and two schooling children but my employer provided me with a letter of resignation for submission to Socso to apply for EIS.

“Five days after my termination, I submitted my application for EIS and was approved in a short time. It enabled me to bear my family’s expenses while looking for a new job,” he said after attending the 2018 Workers’ Day celebration at Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.

Suhaimi was among the 10 recipients in the first group who received EIS which was introduced by the government on Jan 1 through the Employment Insurance System Act 2017.

At the reception, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also stated that an additional allocation of RM60 million would be given to Socso, if the mandate was returned to the Barisan Nasional (BN) to administer the country after the 14th General Election on May 9.

In this regard, the interim relief rates will be raised from RM600 to RM1,000 in the first month, RM800 (second) and RM600 (third), as well as assisting the recipients to attend training programmes to improve their employability.

Another EIS recipient, V. Vijey, 31, said the aid had eased his burden caused by a loss of income after being offered a mutual separation scheme by his employer.

Vijey, who worked at a food service company, said he could use the aid from SIP to find a new job.

“I am grateful that the government has introduced this kind of assistance that shows the concern of leaders who do not want to see their people in hardship when they lose their jobs,” he said.

Meanwhile, Socso chief executive oficer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said the initial interim payment should be RM600, but Socso had decided to increase the payment to RM1,000 in the first month, RM800 (second month) and RM600 (third month).

When met by reporters after attending the Worker’s Day celebration, he described the RM1,000 interim relief provided to the 10 recipients as the government’s concern for the well-being and welfare of those who had lost their jobs.

He said EIS, which was introduced from Jan 1 this year, would help employees and employers face challenges in the labour market, which would benefit 6.5 million workers in the private sector.

“I would like to thank the prime minister for giving his confidence to Socso to implement EIS. We have yet to receive the premium contributions of employees and employers but have paid to those who had lost jobs such as due to job cessation, voluntary separation scheme, business closure and business restructuring.

“This is definitely a relief to the private sector workers involved in the process of losing their jobs, for those who have not yet to inform Socso of job loss, are advised to do so promptly,” he said.