Budget 2021: Job search allowance extended by three months next year

KUALA LUMPUR: The Job Search Allowance (JSA) under the Employment Insurance System (SIP) will be extended by three months for next year, said Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

He said that JSA is currently for six months starting at a rate of 80 per cent of the employee's monthly salary and gradually decreases to 30 per cent of the salary.

"For 2021, the period of JSA will be extended by three months.

“The rate will be 80 per cent in the first month, 50 per cent for the second till the sixth months and subsequently 30 per cent for the last three months,” he said when tabling Budget 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Tengku Zafrul said the government is allocating RM150 million for this, which is expected to assist up to 130,000 job seekers.

Tengku Zafrul said the government will also extend the implementation of the Wage Subsidy Programme for another three months with a more targeted approach, especially for the tourism sector which includes retail at a rate of RM600 per month for workers earning RM4,000 and below.

Besides, he said the limit of 200 employees per application will be increased to 500 employees.

"A total of RM1.5 billion is allocated and is expected to help about 70,000 employers and 900,000 workers,” he added.

As of Oct 31, the government has channelled RM12.5 billion to fund the Wage Subsidy Programme, which has assisted 2.7 million workers and more than 330,000 employers, he added.

-- BERNAMA