KUALA LUMPUR: To address the issue of rising cost of living, particularly for city-dwellers, the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has suggested that the government grant individual allowances to urban workers.
Its president Datuk Azih Muda hopes the government will consider the suggestion ahead of the announcement of the 2018 Budget, as a way of easing the financial burden of those categorised as the urban poor.
"I suggest that an amount of RM300 will suffice for them, and the money can be used to help them pay utility bills," he said during a press conference at the Cuepacs headquarters here on Monday.
Azih also proposed that the government provide commuting rebates and discount cards for civil servants and retirees to encourage use of public transportation in cities.
"By doing this, it will encourage them to travel using public transportation for work or leisure," he said, adding that the initiative would solve traffic congestion.
He also hopes that those living in city outskirts could use public transportation at an economical rate, so that their commute would be affordable.
Azih further proposed that the government award a one-and-a-half month bonus to civil servants.
"We want to thank the government for giving financial aid of RM500 (during festive periods) and at the beginning of school terms.
"However, after more than four years of receiving the financial aid, hopefully the government will consider giving us a bonus next year," he added.