KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s aspiration in extending the MyBrain15 programme to civil servants and statutory body employees to enable them to pursue part-time studies at local institutions of higher learning, is seen as a move to enhance the productivity of civil servants.
The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Azih Muda said the proposal was an excellent move as it gave civil servants the opportunity for self-improvement.
“The minimum eligibility for housing loans has been raised from RM80,000 to RM120,000 and the maximum eligibility limit has been increased from RM450,000 to RM600,000, that showed the government cares about civil servants even though the housing allowance is not raised,” he told Bernama here today.
Commenting on the payment of a half-month salary bonus or a minimum of RM500 to civil servants, Azih said Cuepacs was disappointed as it hoped to obtain two months’ bonus to help civil servants cope with the rising cost of living.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak made the announcement when tabling Budget 2015 at Dewan Rakyat today.
Meanwhile the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan said MEF welcomed the announcement to review the Employment Act 1955 and other labour laws as timely for employers to have flexibility in human resource management.
“The MEF has been calling for the existing act which was drawn up for the 50’s and 60’s, to be reviewed to meet current requirements,” he said.
In Budget 2015, the government also announced expanding the Manpower Department’s skills training programmes to cover students of post-Malaysian Skill Certificate, university and college graduates as well as industrial workers especially semi-skilled workers.
Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Khalid Atan described Budget 2015 as protecting the welfare of the community including workers.
He said the Employment Insurance System introduced by the government was aimed at assisting retrenched workers with subsistence assistance and reskilling as well as upskilling trainings.
– BERNAMA