KUCHING: The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) Sarawak branch wants the government to consider giving an additional RM50 a month in cost-of-living allowance (Cola) to civil servants in Sarawak and Sabah in Budget 2022.
Its chairman Omar Bahrein Unin said this was especially important in tackling the rising cost of living in the two states.
He added that the increase could also provide additional income for civil servants in Sarawak and Sabah as enjoyed by civil servants in the peninsula since January 2020.
“Although civil servants in Sabah and Sarawak receive ‘elaun wilayah’ (regional allowance), it is an existing allowance that has been enjoyed without an increase of RM50 per month like what civil servants in the peninsula receive since Jan 2020,” he said in a statement on Friday (Sept 24).
Omar said Sarawak Cuepacs also asked the government to review the payment rate of the regional allowance for federal civil servants serving in Sarawak and Sabah.
He said the allowance had not been reviewed since it came into effect in 1988.
He also urged the government to consider giving financial assistance for spectacles to ease the civil servants’ burden in view of the rising cost of the glasses.
The union also hoped some of the things that were announced previously could be implemented.
“An increase of one level of annual salary increment (KGT) for all civil servants, a Grade DG56 position for teachers and a second ‘time based’ promotion period to be shortened from 13 years to 10 years.
“Also an adjustment of one percent pension increase for retirees from two percent to three percent annually as announced in 2018 and an option for civil servants to claim cash up to 50 percent of the replacement leave collected,” Omar said.
