KUALA LUMPUR: Nearly 100,000 people have lost their jobs since January this year, the Dewan Rakyat heard today.
Deputy Human Resources Minister Awang Hashim said based on the Employment Insurance System (EIS), 99,696 employees were laid off as of Nov 27, 2020.
"Among the reasons of unemployment include the closure of businesses, downsizing, voluntary separation scheme and mutual separation scheme.
"Next, companies suffer from critical financial problems, followed by partial closure, acquisition of companies and company relocation."
He was responding to a question from M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat), who had asked why many people were being laid off despite the implementation of the Wage Subsidy and the Employment Retention Programmes.
Awang said the government through the Human Resources Ministry had rolled out various economic stimulus packages that had lessened the impact of Covid-19 in the employment sector.
He said, however, there were employers in certain sectors who were forced to lay off staff due to unavoidable external factors.
"Among sectors that were heavily affected because of the pandemic include the manufacturing sector; accommodation, food and beverage sector; wholesale and retail sector; transportation sector and others.
"For example, the main income of employers in the accommodation sector comes from international tourists, and at the same time the country is also affected because of the pandemic."
Based on EIS records, Awang said the number of job losses in the managerial category involved 13,109 people, while 26,079 professionals and 19,095 technicians and associate professionals were also laid off.
He said these categories involved workers with a salary of RM4,000 and above.
"Social Security Organisation (Socso) data showed that 75 per cent of employees were in the Bottom-40 (B40) bracket, with a monthly income of RM4,000 and below.
"Therefore, the Wage Subsidy Programme by the government is aimed at helping those most affected in the B40 group.
"However, those in the managerial level who had been retrenched are still covered under the EIS Act, subject to a maximum pay of RM4,000."
Awang added individuals with a salary of more than RM4,000 would receive a job search allowance.