KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 — As unemployment numbers rose globally as a consequence of Covid-19, the government doubled down on re-employment efforts and allocated RM4.8 billion to ensure some 600,000 jobs are created to restore livelihoods under Budget 2022.

This RM4.8 billion will cover initiatives ranging from wage subsidies to incentivise companies to take on new employees as well as reskilling and upskilling modules, and tax reliefs.

These efforts are broken down into three main thrusts namely the Jamin Kerja employment incentive, the Malaysia Short-Term Employment Programme (MySTEP), and various upskilling and reskilling programs.

Jamin Kerja employment incentive

A whopping RM2.5 billion has been set aside for this flagship initiative, involving seven different demographics of job seekers, with varying levels of subsidies, and is expected to place at least 600,000 with jobs next year.

Spearheaded by the Social Security Organisation (Socso), the vulnerable groups have been prioritised with up to 30 per cent of the employee’s first six months salaries subsidised by the initiative, and 40 per cent the next six months. 

Those listed as within the vulnerable groups include: