SOCSO reinforces commitment to helping retrenched airline staff in Malaysia

In light of the recent retrenchment exercises conducted in the Malaysian aviation industry, the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) has reinforced its commitment to help affected airline staff. This will be done through benefits under the Employment Insurance System (EIS), and government incentives under the Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA).

The EIS, managed by SOCSO, provides protection to employees who have lost their jobs with income replacement through Job Search Allowance for up to six months. Apart from that, SOCSO will help them in getting new jobs through the Re-employment Placement Programme.

To improve the marketability of workers with loss of employment, SOCSO provides Vocational Skills Training with the aim to strengthen their expertise and knowledge, wherein the training costs of up to RM4,000 will be borne by SOCSO and training participants are entitled to a training allowance of RM10 to RM20 per day for a maximum of six months.

Apart from this, SOCSO will also channel government assistance under the PENJANA Hiring Incentive Programme through the national employment portal. MYFutureJobs. This programme provides skills training to upskill and reskill the workers. Employers who recruit workers through this programme would be able to send their newly hired workers to undergo training courses, free-of-charge, to equip them with the right skills and competencies for the new jobs, it noted.

At the same time, SOCSO also highlighted that it would take "proactive" measures in providing assistance to workers who have lost their jobs, "even before they submit their claims for EIS benefits."

In fact, it had recently conducted a virtual job interview programme on 22 and 23 October 2020, although the jobseekers have yet to submit their applications for EIS benefits. The objective behind this move, SOCSO said, is to ensure that those who are affected by the retrenchment exercise receive immediate assistance.

As of 28 October 2020, a total of 90,470 cases of job loss has been reported to SOCSO for EIS benefits application. During the same period, a total of 33,341 insured persons under the EIS have returned to work through the Re-employment Placement Programme and the MYFutureJobs portal.

This brings the total number of workers who have been successfully hired through SOCSO's Re-employment Placement Programme and PENJANA's Hiring Incentive Programme to 102,025.

SOCSO has advised employees who are affected by the retrenchment exercises, including those who are offered a voluntary separation scheme or mutual separation scheme, to visit SOCSO's portal for more information on the EIS benefits and PENJANA, as well as application procedures. 

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