THE Association for Community and Dialogue urges Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan to look into the plight of workers in the hotel industry earning less than RM4,000 but are not eligible to wage subsidies due the size of the workforce in certain hotels that are above 200, which does not fall under the SME category.

The minister’s statement that every firm whose employee earns less than RM4,000 can claim for wage subsidies is inaccurate and does not address issues related to the hotel industry, one of the hardest-hit by the government’s movement control order and global travel restrictions.

The latest economic stimulus package to help SMEs does not seem to have a thorough, comprehensive understanding of the plight of workers in complex hotel operations, and does not differentiate between industries hardest-hit by the pandemic.

The hotel industry needs a comprehensive financial package to help it face the current challenges and ensure its sustainability in terms of maintaining its strategy in reviving its business through innovative efficiency in the post-MCO period.

The government should come up with a package for hotels that not only addresses its financial predicament, but also a plan that will help hotel management skill and reskill their employees to ensure a more productive and innovative workforce, and can help reduce unemployment.

Many hotels have yet to move up the realm of digital technology and artificial intelligence that would help it decentralise its decision-making and speed up its response to global trends and events in the tourism industry. Employee training should focus on these areas.

Therefore, a sense of urgency on the part of the government is vital to ensure there are no massive closures and retrenchment in the industry. There is a need for a comprehensive package to maintain job security jobs and the industry’s survival. – April 8, 2020.

* Ronald Benjamin is Association for Community and Dialogue secretary.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.