Budget 2024: Cuepacs hope for tax discounts, wage increase by RM300

SHAH ALAM - The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) hopes the government will consider income tax discounts, wage increase, bonus and to increase amount of pension calculated in Budget 2024.

Its president Datuk Adnan Mat said the income tax discounts should at least be placed at 30 per cent for all civil servants were among the matters most awaited.

He said the current monthly tax deduction payment by civil servants was at an advance for the current year’s tax which would be reported in March of the following year.

“The payment discount will at least provide some relief for civil servants when their net income received would be increased,” he told Sinar.

Adnan added he hoped Budget 2024 would have the government consider increasing monthly wages by RM300 for all civil servants.

He explained the increase in wages would aid the civil servants in facing the rise in the cost of living.

“Cuepacs would like to thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the government’s commitment towards fixing the quality of life for civil servants through the Public Service Compensation System study involving engagement sessions with all civil service stakeholders.

“While waiting for the compensation system to be finalised, we plead for the government to increase wages.

“It will raise the take-home pay as well as give some relief for the civil servants while waiting for the new compensation system to be implemented in 2025,” he explained.

At the same time, the congress hoped the consideration would be made for a one-and-a-half-month bonus for civil servants.

He said civil servants previously received a minimum of one-and-a-half month bonus or a minimum of RM1,500 in 2012 but after that only special finance assistance was given.

“The government should also increase the pension calculated to the number of years in service up to 35 years to maximise values received when they retire.

“The implementation of the new calculation will raise the quality of life for government pensioners who gave their service throughout their duties in civil service,” he said.