Cuepacs urges govt to expedite SSPA study for implementation next year

SHAH ALAM - The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has urged the government to expedite the study of the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) so that it can be implemented immediately next year.

Cuepacs president Datuk Dr Adnan Mat said the new SSPA is important to ensure that civil servants' salaries are in line with the current economic environment.

"An incentive payment is only temporary and cannot solve the problem of income that is not equal to the increase in the cost of living.

"The comprehensive implementation of the new SSPA is something demanded by civil servants and conveyed to the government through engagement sessions that have been held before," he said in a statement today.

In his presentation of the Malaysia Madani Budget 2024, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that all civil servants grade 57 and below, including contract servants, would receive an SSPA Initial Study Incentive Payment of RM2,000.

Adnan said the incentive is timely and will reduce the burden of preparation for children's schooling expenses and for Ramadan and Syawal.

He also hoped that the government would reimplement the construction of affordable houses for civil servants.

"This would be a more appropriate step to help civil servants own their own homes instead of renting or living in government quarters," he added.

However, Adnan acknowledged Cuepacs' appreciation for the government's commitment of allocating up to RM2.4 billion to build, maintain, and repair civil servant quarters.

He expressed hope that the incentive would help solve the housing problem of civil servants, especially those who work in big cities and areas with high real estate market values.

He added that the move could also reduce the problem of civil servants who have to live far from their workplace due to the lack of affordable houses in the area.