Retrenched Malindo staff to receive SIP benefits

KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resource Ministry gave its assurance that all employees of the Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd (Malindo Airways) who have been laid off will receive their unemployment benefits through the Employment Insurance System (SIP).

Its minister, Datuk Seri M Saravanan advised the affected employees to submit the application for SIP benefits online at eis.perkeso.gov.my or to send it to any Social Security Organisation (Socso) office as soon as possible.

He said Socso would also assist them in finding jobs through the MYFutureJobs portal.

“The Malindo Airways employees are also eligible to participate in reskilling and upskilling training programmes organised by Socso or Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (PSMB), where the training fee is fully borne by the government," he said in a statement today.

Malindo Airways has laid off 2,647 workers since Nov 1.

The airline also offered unpaid leave for one year to 439 employees in the hope that the economy would recover and they would be called back to work, while 347 employees were offered the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS), and the remaining 1,861 workers were given notice that their service was terminated and given minimum compensation under the Employment Act 1955.

Saravanan said Malindo Airways had been provided assistance under the Employment Retention Programme (ERP) for two months since last April.

“The ERP payment for April benefited 2,112 employees, involving RM1.26 million, while the ERP payment for May was given to 2,478 employees involving RM1.48 million,” he added.

He said the airline also received payment for the Wage Subsidy Programme (PSU) amounting to RM240,000 for July and August, which benefitted 200 employees.

“For the 439 Malindo Airways employees who received notice for unpaid leave, they can assume that their service contract has been terminated and they can submit their claim for benefits under SIP,” he added.

--BERNAMA