THE Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has raised concerns over the lack of transparency in the Penjana stimulus package unveiled by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday.

MTUC secretary-general J. Solomon said there are still questions over how the government plans to ensure that the firms who benefit from Penjana will assist their employees properly.

“Neither has the government divulged any information on its plans, if any, to ensure that employers benefiting from Penjana live up to their end of the bargain by ensuring workers keep their jobs and the subsidies meant for workers go to them and not elsewhere,” he said in a press statement today.

Solomon said this lack of transparency was also observed in the earlier RM250 billion Prihatin, despite public pressure.

“What we know now is that unemployment has been in the thousands, and is expected to reach 2 million in the near future, despite all the handouts given,” he said.

Putrajaya yesterday announced an additional RM35 billion stimulus package to try to revive an economy ravaged by Covid-19 and the subsequent movement control order to curb the pandemic.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the economic recovery plan (Penjana) will have three areas of focus: empowering people, propelling businesses and stimulating the economy.

Muhyiddin said RM10 billion will be a direct financial injection from the government.

This latest package comes on top of three stimulus plans totalling RM260 billion to cushion the economic impact of the pandemic.

In his statement, Solomon also said one major factor contributing to the rapid rise in unemployment is the lack of monitoring and enforcement.

Many businesses abuse the assistance programme by taking the money but not keeping their employees, he said.

“For example, YTL Cement, which is a financially sound company, has released 62 workers on the excuse that their factory needs upgrading. Yet, the company will stand to benefit from assistance under Penjana,” he said.

MTUC is cautious yet hopeful that Penjana will be able to jump-start the economy and create more job opportunities for displaced workers and fresh graduates.

“However, we are certain that our hopes will be dashed if the government continues to neglect the need for public transparency and strict enforcement against employers who exploit the system and victimise workers, while profiting from public funds,” he said. – June 6, 2020.