KOTA KINABALU – The Social Security Organisation (Socso) has spent more than RM1 billion on economic stimulation packages to help the jobless in Sabah, as the unemployment rate in the state remains the highest in the country.
Its chief executive, Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed, said these packages include employer and employee incentives, worker retention and hiring for businesses.
“In Sabah, there are 280,744 active employees protected under Socso, and 33,893 active employers.”
According to the Statistics Department, Sabah has a labour force of more than two million, while 1.9 million individuals are unemployed – a steep hike from the 117,100 in 2019.
Overall, Socso has distributed some RM14.6 billion in funds to employers and employees nationwide, and as of April 2, the organisation has assisted 46,971 individuals in gaining employment.
Azman said 457,753 vacancies are available nationwide, adding that Socso has notified Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor of the availabilities.
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, Sabah’s unemployment rate at 5.8% in 2019 was already suffering. The national unemployment rate is 3.3%.
The department has yet to release last year’s report, but the jobless numbers are expected to rise further, with it estimating more than 280,000 unemployed youth as a result of the pandemic. – The Vibes, April 7, 2021
