Unemployment rate of low income group doubled since September - Unicef

PETALING JAYA (Feb 8): More and more low income earners in Klang Valley are losing their jobs during the one-year long conditional movement control order, according to a report by United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef).

The unemployment rate has increased two-fold to 15% in December last year, from 7% in September 2020,  reported Free Malaysia Today, citing the Unicef survey which involved 50 households in Kuala Lumpur’s flats.

Unicef’s representative in Malaysia Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar said despite the government offering various financial aids, 63% of the households still facing difficulties in meeting their daily needs.

Rashed called for social protection reforms to further assist vulnerable groups suffering from the pandemic as many of them are stressed, worried about whether they could get a job to support their family while some are also worried about their children’s education.

Najib Assifi of the United Nations Population Fund in Malaysia noted that the long term stress in dealing with the current economic situation will affect the urban low income earners’ mental health, thus forming an unhealthy living environment.

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