JobsDB Moments (November 2009)
PM Presents a “Painless” Budget
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday described the RM191.5 billion 2010 Budget he tabled in Parliament as a “painless” one, The News Straits Time said.
On grouses about the RM50 service tax proposed for credit cards in the Budget, he said it should not be of concern since the government had cut personal income tax by one per cent to 26 per cent and at the same time raised tax relief by RM1,000.
It means that taxpayers will enjoy a RM1,000 increase in disposable income from the 2010 year of assessment.
According to the report the Budget has been widely seen as a “people first” budget as Najib announced measures not only to lessen the people’s burden in the currently weak global economic climate but also to make Malaysia a high-income nation.
Themed "1Malaysia, Together We Prosper', Najib tabled the 2010 Budget totalling RM191.5 billion, with a three-pronged strategy to drive the nation towards a high-income economy; ensuring holistic and sustainable development; and focusing on the people's well-being.
Among other benefits for individuals are the Government's decision to offer tax relief for broadband subscription fee of up to RM500 a year from 2010 to 2012.
The Budget is about a tenth less than the budget for 2009 but will cut Malaysia’s fiscal deficit to 5.6 per cent, a move economists said reflected the government’s responsibility to keep the country’s finances in good shape.
Economic Recovery: Not So Rapid.
Will there be global economic recover? Of course? Will be it soon? Not really. Or so says Malaysian Institute of Economic Research.
It’s executive director Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Ariff Abdul Kareem said economic recovery, both globally and locally, is expected to be sluggish till 2012.
In a report by The Star newspaper, he was quoted as saying that the road would be bumpy and rocky as countries around the world might not experience sustainable recovery.
“All indicators show that the world would face sluggish growth for the next three years, we would experience pre-crisis trajectory growth only by 2012,” he said
Countries, such as China, which had shown dynamic growth despite the global slowdown, were actually supported by massive stimulus packages, he said, adding: “Many of these countries have actually become very addicted to stimulus packages, hence recovery is unlikely to be sustainable.”
He said these countries would require further injection of fiscal stimulus in order to keep the growth momentum going but many were running out of resources.
Right Investment For Better Salary Packages.
Foreign investment can be good, but the getting the right one is what matters most for the jobs industry.
State governments including those under the opposition should strive to attract foreign investors who are able to offer better renumeration packages for Malaysian workers, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S.Subramaniam.
He stressed that foreign investors should not be investing in the country on the premises of cheap labour and goods, news agency Bernama reported.
"If employers come here and just offer salaries between RM500 and RM600, naturally Malaysians will be disappointed.
"I hope future investors, including in Selangor and Penang will be those who have the power to employ workers with higher salaries in line with the call by Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) in the Budget 2010 for Malaysia to become a high income nation," he said
Subramaniam said the government introduced two economic stimulus packages for economic restructuring to ensure productivity increased.
"This is also one of the ways to reduce dependence on foreign workers and at the same time, help increase the salaries of local employees," he said.
He said a few companies had also taken the initiatives to increase the basic salaries of their employees and it was hoped that this would attract more local workers to work and remain in the industries concerned.
Maid Abusers Beware!
It's becoming rampant and authorities are not going to be quiet about it. Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam has directed the Labour Department to coordinate with the authorities in prosecuting employers found to have abused their maids.
"We will do everything we can to support the authorities as they take legal action against those involved," he said in a media report.
The minister stressed that any case of abuse involving maids would not be tolerated in Malaysia.
He said his ministry would ensure the safety and health of workers and uphold social justice.
"The workplace rights and protection provided to our citizens are equally important to foreign workers in Malaysia, including those from Indonesia," he said.
Dr Subramaniam's statement comes in the wake of the death of Indonesian maid Mantik Hani, 36, from Surabaya, after alleged abuse by her employer, the report said.
"We are shocked by the allegations being made in the case of Mantik Hani. I have already said yesterday that the government viewed this matter very seriously," he said.
(Source: Jobsdb Malaysia)
|
