Klang MP Charles Santiago has called on the government to grant a six-month moratorium on loans to save small businesses and jobs.
Employers in Malaysia have been warned that they risk closure if staff are not allowed to self-quarantine while waiting for COVID-19 screening results.
In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Malaysia, the government has imposed a nationwide movement control order.
The Social Security Organisation (Socso) has announced plans to protect 200,000 active self-employed individuals by the end of this year.
The government’s Wage Subsidy Programme 1.0 (PSU 1.0) has approved wage subsidies of RM12.86 (US$3.12 billion) as of April 23.
Businesses in six Selangor districts will be allowed to have 30% of staff present in offices from May 6 till May 17 under the latest movement control order.
Now is not the right time to review the minimum wage as this will add to costs of doing business, said the MEF president.
Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has called for the revision of minimum wages and the remuneration system.
The MyMudah platform, launched last July, aims to alleviate the economic impact of COVID-19 on local enterprises and international businesses.
SMEs selected for the programme will undergo capacity building and be eligible to receive financial assistance of up to RM500,000.
The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has said vaccinations are still on a voluntary basis unless the government makes it mandatory for workers.
8.8% of workers in the country are paid a basic salary below the RM1,200 (US$291) monthly minimum wage.
Offences include uncertified accommodation, non-compliance with local authority laws and not providing rest and dining areas to employees.
Through a new initiative, the government aims to provide a level playing field for social impact firms by supporting their job creation and innovation efforts.
It aims to work with employers, employers’ associations and career strategic partners nationwide to achieve its job target.
Human resources minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan has given the green light allowing employers to give their staff leave for getting vaccinated.
The sectors of wholesale and retail trade, education, and human health and social work saw a continuous increase in employment.
The Human Resources Ministry and the Ministry of Health are deliberating whether employees should be given an off-day to get their COVID-19 inoculations.
The initiative, by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), is aimed at boosting the digital business industry and to nurture quality tech talent.
Despite the improved outlook, the labour market is constrained by factors such as a mismatch between qualifications and job opportunities.
Under the programme, jobseekers who successfully found jobs within a distance of less than 100 km would be given mobility assistance of RM500.
Malaysia needs to put in continued effort to catalyse economic transformation and create high-skilled jobs, said the central bank governor.
The level of office attendance for civil servants is subjected to the Public Service Department, while the private sector is allowed to have 100% of staff back.
The court judgment read that service charge, being monies collected from third parties, does not belong to the hotel, and should be transferred to employees.
The government is proposing a change to the current employment law to support a work-from-home (WFH) culture even in the post-pandemic era.
Wanita Industrial Malaysia (WIM), a trade union coalition representing female workers, has urged the government to mandate 98 days of maternity leave.
The development model that worked in the past for Malaysia is no longer enough for it to navigate to the next stage of its development, it added.
This marks the sixth round of support packages unveiled since the pandemic, bringing the total sum of all packages rolled out to RM340 billion.
Since last year, workers from various sectors have had to work remotely to comply with government measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.
A blanket increase of the retirement age to 65 and beyond could adversely impact the labour market, causing unemployment among younger workers.
