Survey: Malaysians want more financial aid, better talent and counter the black market as key measures to safeguard jobs | Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 – Malaysians hope the government will consider taking certain steps to revive the economy after Covid 19, a survey showed.

In a recent study by market research company Green Zebras Sdn Bhd, 74 percent of Malaysians surveyed felt that the government should provide more financial help to employees, while 59 percent felt that employers needed financial help. .

The study also found that 51 percent of Malaysians felt that greater talent ability was needed, especially for those who may have been laid off due to the pandemic.

An interesting finding was that 58 percent of Malaysians also considered counteracting the black market important as a key solution to safeguard jobs at this crucial time, stating that the government should ensure that illegal activities do not prosper.

Forty-seven percent of Malaysians also believe that companies should be protected from criminal activity at this time.

“Clearly, job security is the most important thing for most adults working in Malaysia today.

“This survey was conducted to understand how Malaysians feel about their jobs today and what they suggest the government should do to safeguard jobs as we move into the new normal,” said the managing director and co-founder of Green Zebras, Steve Murphy.

The Green Zebras Job Perception Survey was conducted online in May in Peninsular and East Malaysia and is represented nationally by the general population based on location, gender, race and age.

According to Green Zebras, the proposed measures offered by respondents emerged from a bleak job outlook.

Significantly, the survey also found that 52 percent of respondents believe that unemployment will rise significantly, while 37 percent say it will increase slightly.

Only five percent said unemployment levels will remain the same, while six percent said the unemployment rate will decrease after the conditional movement control (CMCO) order is lifted.

The government enforced a national movement control order (MCO) to prevent a further spread of Covid-19 on March 18.

Although the positive cases have been reduced significantly, to avoid a relapse, the government has applied the CMCO until June 9

The survey also found that 28 percent of respondents said they now receive a lower salary, while 13 percent have been left without a job due to the pandemic.

Another nine percent of respondents said that there is currently a high level of uncertainty in their current jobs and that they will likely see a reduction in wages or job loss soon.

Only 34 percent said their wages remained the same, while two percent said their wages had increased.

The remaining respondents (14 percent) are not currently in the job market.

“Focusing on the shadow economy or the black market while focusing our efforts to end this stumbling block in the economy can reverse job decline and facilitate economic recovery,” said Datuk Fazli Nordin, managing director of the Defense Chapter. of Trademarks and Retailers, Datuk Fazli Nordin. on the Green Zebra findings.

According to a 2019 report published by the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, economic leaks in all sectors susceptible to illegal trade create an annual loss in the economy of US $ 2.2 billion (RM8.7 billion).

The report also indicated that illegal and unfair competition reduces sales and reduces the ability of legitimate companies to create decent and lasting job opportunities.

“In Malaysia, the underground economy is estimated at RM300 billion. Making up for this significant loss of income can certainly finance much-needed financial help for companies and employees and invest in talent development.

“Furthermore, by reducing the black market, companies compete on a level playing field that can accelerate Malaysia into a high-income nation,” Fazli said.

“The Malaysian government can very quickly address the endemic black market problem with rigorous enforcement in conjunction with the overhaul of taxes and excise duties to close the price gap between legitimate and illegal products,” he concluded.