KUALA LUMPUR – The government will provide a RM500 one-off payment that will benefit some 100,000 Health Ministry (MOH) frontliners as a mark of appreciation for their services.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the grant was in addition to their monthly RM600 COVID-19 Special Allowance given since March, and will continue until the pandemic threat is successfully overcome.
“The government appreciates the sacrifices and hardwork of the frontliners in handling the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tengku Zafrul when presenting Budget 2021 in Parliament today.
To assist frontliners who face difficulty obtaining child care services, he said RM30 million has been allocated to provide nurseries in government premises, especially in hospitals.
Meanwhile, for the private sector, matching grants of up to RM20 million will be provided to encourage the private sector to provide childcare centers in their premises,” said Tengku Zafrul.
Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul said the government will also provide RM24 million for contributions under the Employment Injury Scheme under the Social Security Organisation (Socso) for the benefit of workers in four groups.
He said the first group involves members of the armed forces, police reserve volunteers, civil defence volunteers and maritime volunteers.
He said the second covers takmir teachers, imam, bilal, siak, noja and merbut while the third will involve public sector workers with ‘contract for service’ status.
As for the fourth group, he said to appreciate their contributions as part of the support group during the Movement Control Order period, this same initiative will also be extended to some 40,000 delivery riders, he said.
— BERNAMA
