KUALA LUMPUR, 17 Oct 2017:
The Congress of Union of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has proposed the government should consider giving a bonus of 1½ months to civil servants and two new initiatives to ease the financial burden of those living in the city in the Budget 2018 to be tabled on Oct 27.
President Datuk Azih Muda said itsis vital for the government to consider the proposed City Allowance and Public Transport Discount Card – due to the rising costs faced by civil servants living in the city.
“On the bonus, we no longer want the RM500 financial aid, it is time for the government to pay a bonus of 1½ months to civil servants.
“As for the provision of public transport rebates, Cuepacs proposes that the discount card be provided to civil servants and government pensioners when using public transportation starting January 2018,” he told reporters in a special media conference here yesterday.
He said in introducing the City Allowance – especially to civil servants living in urban areas – Cuepacs proposed a monthly payment of RM300 a month for the group.
Cuepacs also wanted the government to review the Civil Service Permanent Allowance for the lowest grade, which is RM95 per month at present, to a minimum RM180 per month – besides considering giving annual increments to all civil servants twice yearly and time based promotions for those in the senior grades.
Azih said the first time time based promotion should be reduced from 13 to 10 years while the second one after eight years.
To ensure civil servants enjoy facilities from various types of taxes paid, Cuepacs recommended that higher individual tax rebates be given – ranging from RM9,0000 to RM18,000, wife and children from RM4,000 to RM9,000, tax rebate for children under aged 18 be extended to aged 21 from RM2,000 to RM4,000.
Other recommendations included providing relief of up to RM5,000 for parents’ welfare, raising parents’ medical costs from RM5,000 to RM9, 000 and life insurance purchase to be increased from RM6,000 to RM10,000.
Meanwhile Azih said permanent housing remained a key issue as many civil servants still could not afford to own houses despite the government having introduced the 1Malaysia Civil Servants housing (PPA1M) and 1Malaysia People’s Housing (PR1MA).
“As such Cuepacs proposes that the loan interest rates from the Public Sector Housing Board be reduced from 4% to only 1%.”
He said Cuepacs also called for the government to allocate housing to civil servants earning RM3,000 and below by building houses priced at RM90,000 to RM150,000.
He said Cuepacs recommended that all civil servants be given protection under the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to replace the ex-gratia scheme under the Finance Ministry.
The memorandum of claim was sent to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in early August. “We understand it is being considered and hopefully all these claims can be met in the Budget this time for the well-being of civil servants in the country.
“Cuepacs is confident the government will never forget these civil servants and always ensure the needs of these groups are met.”
– Bernama