‘Wage subsidy programme a lifeline for small traders’
TAWAU: When demand for physiotherapy services fell sharply following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, physiotherapy centre operator Chu Wei Shyong became distraught when thinking about the fate of his five employees.
Chu, who has been operating the centre here for more than five years, refused to lay off his staff, who are all locals with dependents counting on them.
“My business is 50 per cent affected following Covid-19. Even till this day because it depends on walk-in customers. The biggest cost I have to bear is the salary of the staff.”
Grateful for the Wage Subsidy Programme under the Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana) announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in early April, the businessman said the initiative had allowed his company to receive RM1,200 in wage subsidy per worker, which helped him to retain his employees without having to cut their pay.
Chu said the decision to issue the notice on unpaid leave was already difficult to make, what more terminating employment as all the staff had no other source of income.
“Thank you to the government for helping the people regardless of their backgrounds and for understanding the struggles we face, including traders whose income was affected.”
The prime minister recently announced the extension of the Wage Subsidy Programme, as well as the Prihatin Special Grant under the Prihatin Supplementary Initiative Package (Kita Prihatin).
Chu said the extension had once again brought relief to small business operators like him, who were affected by the sluggish economy.
“The company’s income is still lacking, especially with the spike in (Covid-19) cases in Tawau.
“With more than 300 cases, it is worrisome.
“This new stimulus package announced by the prime minister recently has once again helped my business and the people,” said Chu.