KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 90,470 people reported losing their jobs to the Social Security Organisation's (Socso) Employment Insurance System (EIS), as of Oct 28.
However, 33,341 people have been rehired through the Re-employment Placement Programme and the MYFutureJobs portal.
"This brings the total number of workers who have been successfully rehired through SOCSO's Re-employment Placement Programme and Penjana's (National Economic Recovery Plan) Hiring Incentive Programme to 102,025 cases", it said in a statement.
Socso said it remained committed to aiding those who have lost their jobs, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, citing especially the recent retrenchment exercises affecting airline staff.
It said those from the local aviation industry who were affected can apply for the EIS and government incentives under Penjana.
It said the EIS provided protection with income replacement through a Job Search Allowance for up to six months to those who lost their jobs.
"Apart from that, we will also be helping them in getting new jobs through the Re-employment Placement Programme. The applicants can (also) apply to join our Vocational Skills Training to improve their marketability, strengthen their expertise and knowledge.
"We will bear the training programme costs, which amount to RM4,000 and the participants are entitled to a training allowance of RM10 to RM20 per day for a maximum of six months," it said.
The objective behind this move, it said, was to ensure that affected workers receive immediate assistance.
"Socso will also channel government assistance under the Penjana Hiring Incentive Programme through the national employment portal, MYFutureJobs... to upskill and re-skill participants.
"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," read the statement.
The agency recently conducted a virtual job interview programme on Oct 22 and 23, but the job seekers have yet to submit their applications for EIS benefits.
It advised employees affected by retrenchment exercises including those who are offered a voluntary separation scheme (VSS) or mutual separation scheme (MSS) to visit its website (www.perkeso.gov.my) to acquire more information on EIS benefits and Penjana, as well as the application procedures.
For more information, the public can also direct inquiries to the Socso careline number at 1-300-22-8000.