MORE than 50% of the applicants for the Employment Insurance Scheme (EIS), filed as of Dec 3, are from the lower-income group, earning RM2,000 or lesser.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this while responding to a question by Tambun MP, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, at the Dewan Rakyat.
“The poor or hardcore poor, were among the 101,385 people who lost their jobs and applied for compensation under scheme.
“This figure is higher in comparison to around 40,000 workers recorded in 2019 and 24,000 in 2018,” said the Pagoh MP.
He added that 5,390 new applicants filed for EIS compensation, since the previously reported number of 95,995 from January to Nov 13.
When the Government imposed the movement control order (MCO) in March due to the pandemic, they announced several direct cash aid schemes, such the Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat to help the rakyat.
The Government also launched the i-Lestari programme, where Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors can withdraw up to RM500 monthly from the Account 2.
In the recent Budget 2021, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz announced the i-Sinar programme, where contributors who lost their jobs or suffered salary deduction can withdraw up to RM10,000 from the Account 1. – Dec 8, 2020.
