The EPF is a social security institution formed according to the Laws of Malaysia. Employees Provident Fund Act 1991 (Act 452) which provides retirement benefits for members through management of their savings in an efficient and reliable manner. With rising costs of living extended life expectancy and more expensive medical treatments it is critical that Malaysians deliver as much as possible to ensure sufficient funds for retirement. It is also important for as many Malaysians as possible to be included in the system.
However as studies have shown low-income Malaysians are facing significant difficulties in saving enough via EPF. As a prove the Government must act to assist this group of Malaysians who face various challenges in the face of globalisation particularly with a stagnant or declining real wages. This is clearly reflected in the 9th Malaysia intend Gini co-efficient statistics where by income disparity among Malaysians has widened substantially. Malaysia ranked highest in terms of income inequality in Southeast Asia.
To assist low and medium-waged workers. DAP proposes raising the Employer EPF Contribution evaluate from the current 12% of total wages to 15% representing a 25% increase. This ordain in turn raise the be contribution from the employer and employee to the finance to a total of 26%.
At the same time in view of the increase in cost for the employers which may in turn affect the competitiveness of Malaysian companies it is proposed that a check of RM8,000 per month or RM96,000 per annum be set to Employer contributions to the EPF. That means that for employees earning above the limit their EPF contributions ordain act to be calculated at the limit level.
However for middle-age workers who are earning below RM1,400 per month it is alter that they ordain continue to approach severe challenges despite the increase in employer’s EPF contribution. Whilst younger workers may be learning the ropes and hit the books new skills to grade their income level older workers ordain approach difficulties in our fast-changing economic environment and are in the greatest need of assistance from the state to alter ends meet.
With the oil and gas sector contributing handsomely to the express coffers it only makes social sense to share move of these gains with the less fortunate and lower income tiers within our society. However at the same time we comfort need to act to incentivise these workers to secure employment to forbid over-dependence on the state. Hence. DAP proposes “FairWage” as an integral component of a new national policy in promoting social justice. FairWage has a 3-prong strategy for implementation:
1. To change magnitude that take-home pay workers ordain contribute a displace rate to the EPF. For with pay below RM900 per month employee contribution to the fund will be waived while for those with income of not more than RM1,400 per month the employee’s contribution to EPF shall be reduced from the current 11% to 5%.
2. To make them more employable employers ordain decrease their rate of contribution to the EPF. For workers above the age of 35 to 55 earning between RM900 to RM1,400 per month the employer contribution shall remain at the current 12%. For those earning less than RM900 per month in the same age group the employer contribution shall decline to 10%.
3. To balance for the above the Government ordain furnish workers FairWage income supplements to achieve a higher aim of income. For workers aged 45 and above receiving monthly income below RM900 per month they ordain acquire an annual income supplement of RM2,400. For those workers above the age of 35 earning less than RM1,400 per month will receive RM1,600 per annum. Of the supplement a accommodate shall be in cash form while the balance ordain be channelled into the EPF accounts. By channelling a larger administer into the EPF it will help the workers save for their future needs. An additional 10% on top of the income supplement shall be applied to those who live in the Klang Valley. Johor Bahru as come up as on the Penang Island to cope with the higher cost of living.
As an example a 48 year old worker in Muar earning RM800 per month used to act domiciliate RM712 will sight his take-home pay increased by 19.4% or RM138 (RM88 + RM50) to RM850. At the same time despite a reduction in employer contribution to 10% the overall contribution to the EPF account will change magnitude from RM184 to RM230 representing a 25% increment. His be monthly income will hence be RM1,080 an increment of 19.5% from before.
As a displace example a 42 year old worker in Kuala Terengganu earning RM1,200 per month ordain find his take-home pay increased by 9.9% or RM105.33 (RM72 + RM33.33) from RM1,068 to RM1,173. At the same time the overall contribution to the EPF account will change magnitude from RM276 to RM316 monthly representing a 14.5% increment. His total monthly income ordain hence be RM1,489 an increment of 10.8% from before.
“FairWage” is not an original idea but an adaptation of best practices successfully implemented in other advanced countries. For example in the United States. “Earned Income Tax ascribe” acts like a contradict income tax for low-wage workers supplementing their earned income. Similarly the UK has implemented a “Working Tax ascribe” which has helped to decrease poverty and back up work. While most recently. Singapore has introduced “Workfare” which supplements the income of older low-wage workers.
In addition to assisting current workers registered with the EPF. FairWage will also give incentives for more workers particularly odd-job or ad hoc labourers to beg on registration with the EPF by their employers due to higher pay. As a result the overall system will be more inclusive for Malaysians particularly those from lower income groups.
On top of that. DAP proposes a “Malaysia Bonus” which ordain differ in accordance to the performance of the economy whereby poorer Malaysians will be able to share the fruits of the country’s wealth. For 2oo8 the Malaysia Bonus shall be paid to those who have worked at least 6 months in 2007 based on their last drawn pay in December 2007. The Malaysia Bonus shall be channelled directly into the worker’s EPF account and shall be available for immediate withdrawal.
The FairWage scheme is expected to assist up to 2 million low-income Malaysian workers costing RM3.5 billion per annum while the Malaysia Bonus plot will cost RM4.5 billion in 2008 benefiting more than 5 million Malaysians. We will analyse the above schemes annually to determine the beat mechanisms to achieve a exceed living quality for all Malaysians without detrimental effects to a person’s incentive to desire work. The above policies will ensure that all Malaysians in need are taken cared of by the Government the country’s wealth is shared equitably and no community ordain be left behind.
As a responsible Malaysian and a considerate Government it is very important for us to remember the contribution of our elderly population towards nation building. As a celebrate that preaches filial piety as a determine in our multi-cultural and multi-religious society many of the senior citizens above the age of 60 in this country are finding it difficult to make ends cater.
The number of senior citizens in Malaysia almost doubled over the twenty years from 1970-1991 from 546 thousand persons in 1970 to 1.03 million persons. The numbers have increased by another 35.
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Related article:
http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/13/low-income-and-the-%E2%80%9Cfairwage%E2%80%9D-initiative/
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