Mobility aid will help overcome ‘geographical barriers’ to employment, says group

The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has welcomed a one-off RM1,000 mobility assistance allowance for Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) contributors who secure jobs more than 100km from home, but said accessibility and timely delivery are key to its success.

The initiative, announced by human resources minister R Ramanan, will take effect from Oct 1 through amendments to the Employment Insurance System (EIS) Act 2017.

MEF senior adviser for government, media and international engagement Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the allowance could help overcome geographical barriers to employment and improve the matching of workers with vacancies.

“Employment opportunities do not always arise within commuting distance of a worker’s home. The one-off RM1,000 allowance recognises that relocation and extended travel may involve genuine upfront costs,” he said in a statement.

Syed Hussain urged Perkeso to ensure eligible workers were clearly informed about the scheme and could apply through a straightforward and transparent process.

“The success of any employment incentive ultimately depends on accessibility, awareness, and timely delivery,” he said, adding that Perkeso should clearly communicate the eligibility criteria, application procedures, and payment timelines.

Syed Hussain also welcomed other EIS enhancements, including raising the early re-employment allowance from 25% to 50% of the remaining unpaid job search allowance for eligible workers who return to work.

The daily training allowance will also increase to RM30 from RM10-RM20, while the maximum training fee covered will rise from RM4,000 to RM7,000.

He said the measures would help workers move to where jobs were available, acquire new skills, and transition into different occupations.

He also said the government should track the take-up and outcomes of the mobility allowance, including the jobs secured, and whether recipients remained employed.

The data would help determine whether the programme was meeting its objective, and guide future improvements to employment support.

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