THE government has disbursed RM20.6 billion to 357,618 employers through the wage subsidy programme up to March 18, which has sustained 2.96 million local jobs.

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said in the scheme’s first payout, a total of 322,177 employers and 2.64 million workers benefitted from the Prihatin economic stimulus package and the National Recovery Plan, whereby wage subsidy applications approved hit RM12.96 billion as of March 18.

A total of RM1.4 billion had been disbursed to 81,132 employers in the second payout, helping to maintain the employment of 718,195 workers.

In the third payout, RM3.7 billion was disbursed to 162,255 employers, helping to sustain 1.5 million jobs.

“The third scheme has been improved with the Permai, Pemerkasa and Pemerkasa+ economic aid packages,” the finance minister said in the People’s Financial Report issued today.

Under the Pemulih plan, the government implemented a fourth programme with an allocation of  RM3.8 billion, which is expected to benefit 2.5 million workers.

Up to March 18, RM2.465 billion had been disbursed to 159,326 employers to sustain their operations, helping to maintain 1.9 million jobs.

In the fifth scheme, a total of RM72 million had been disbursed to 3,681 employers up to March 18, helping to maintain 61,772 workers.

Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul said 2,709 participants had been successfully placed in the public sector and government-linked companies (GLCs) through the Malaysia Short-term Employment Programme (MySTEP) up to March 25, compared with 2,546 up to March 17.

Of that number, 1,833 people were placed in the public sector while 713 found jobs in GLCs and their strategic partners.

“The Finance Ministry has provided the MySTEP portal to improve the application process and hiring of workers in the public sector and GLCs. Those interested to work in the public sector or GLCs can upload their resumes through the portal,” he said. – Bernama, April 1, 2022.