MORE than 2,400 supervisors, therapists, trainers and trainees at Sarawak’s 55 community-based rehabilitation centres will get an increase in their monthly allowance.

Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg gave the approval for the increase on the spot at the state’s Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Ministry’s gathering to honour its high-performing micro entrepreneurs in Kuching this afternoon.

Even though the chief minister said the increase will be implemented “immediately”, the quantum of increase has to be determined.

“These are people with special skills. There are not many people with such specialised skills,” Abang Johari said.

Currently, the supervisors of the centre are getting RM1,200 a month while other workers are only receiving RM800 a month.

Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Fatimah Abdullah said the amount seemed unfair as they not only specialised, skilled staff, they also put in the same number of working hours as their counterparts in the civil service.

The centres offer physically challenged persons rehabilitation, vocational training to give them equal employment opportunities, education and social integration.

However, her other requests for a status change in the appointment of therapists and to increase the number of staff in the state welfare office had to be put on hold.

The chief minister said the requests have to be studied first as it involves the terms of employment.

“We will consider. We will have to do cost implication… and put in the state budget.”

Fatimah said she is seeking a manpower increase as the number of people falling below the new poverty line next year will increase three-fold from over 50,000 to over 152,000. – September 30, 2020.