Malaysia approved wage subsidies worth US$3.12 billion

PSU 1.0 has benefited 322,177 employers and 2.64 million workers, according to the country’s finance minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz. 

The minister also disclosed that its PSU 2.0 has approved wage applications worth RM1.17 billion (US$283.7 million) as of April 23, which has benefited 73,567 employers and helped 635,748 workers stay employed. 

In addition, Tengku Zafrul said that the MY30 Public Transport Subsidy programme RM127.74 million has been used for the subscription of 751,414 unlimited monthly public transport passes provided specifically for Malaysian citizens as of April 23. 

“As announced under Budget 2021, this initiative is extended to 2021 to further promote mobility and reduce the cost burden of public transport for the people,” he said in the recent 52nd Implementation and Coordination Unit Between National Agencies (Laksana) report. 

Tengku Zafrul also reported that 321 of the 644 applications for the financing of the Penjana tourism sector have been approved as of April 23, with a total financing of RM63.9 million (US$15.5 million). 

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In addition, the finance minister said 132,403 workers had managed to get jobs through the Recruitment Incentive and Training Assistance programme as of April 23, adding that “the major industries and sectors that employed workers include those in manufacturing as well as wholesale and retail trade”, according to Bernama.