Cuepacs satisfied with Budget 2018

PETALING JAYA: The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has expressed their appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak following the incentive announcements for civil servants during the 2018 Budget which was tabled at the Dewan Rakyat, today.
Its president Datuk Seri Azih Muda said Cuepacs is satisfied overall with the announcements as Najib had given due consideration to their requests.
"We were hoping that the government would consider revising civil servants' salary, especially after the rationalisation of the existing public service schemes.
"However, we understand that the government can only provide so much at a certain time," he said when contacted, today.
Azih lauded the government's decision to add another rated work time starting from 9am to 6pm, stating that this would eventually increase productivity levels especially among young civil servants in addition to providing flexibility for work-life balance purposes.
The government's decision to introduce second time-based promotion for government support staff after 13 years, he said is an encouraging effort as this would also promote productivity amongst those involved.
During his budget speech, Najib announced that all civil servants in the country are set to receive a one-off payment of RM1,500.
The payment, however, will be credited twice, RM1,000 in early January and RM500 before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, next year.
Najib also announced that Muslim civil servants will be allowed seven days of unrecorded leave to perform the umrah.
While female civil servants who are more than five months pregnant, he said are allowed to leave work an hour early with husbands allowed the same exemption provided that the couple work nearby.
He also announced increased maternity leave entitlement from 300 days to 360 days along the women's time in civil service, subject to a maximum of 90 days a year.
Government servants will be also provided in-house learning to complete their Bachelor's degree and doctorate courses.
He also announced the raise the lowest pension rate to RM1,000 per month involving more than 50 thousand pensioners with at least 25 years length of service and well as extend medical facilities for parents of government retirees.