KUALA LUMPUR – The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) and the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Service (Cuepacs) have commended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for announcing an impending salary increase for civil servants, signalling a significant boost in their remuneration.
NUTP president Aminuddin Awang expressed gratitude to the prime minister, hailing the proposed revision of the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) as a long-awaited relief for civil servants across the nation.
“We are confident that the revision will be of huge help to the civil servants, especially in terms of the cost of living for those who are in the big cities.
“We are thankful and very grateful to the government. What remains is to wait for the government to streamline and announce the details. It will most likely be announced soon, or during the tabling of Budget 2025.
“Apart from this revision, we hope that the government will also look into other matters relating to the teaching profession, as we make up one-third of the civil servants. Teachers play an important role (in building the nation),” he told reporters when met at the National Labour Day celebration at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre earlier today.
Aminuddin noted the anticipated benefits of the SSPA revision, particularly in addressing the challenges posed by the escalating cost of living, especially for those residing in urban areas.
“Moreover, we urge the government to consider additional measures to support the teaching profession, given its pivotal role in nation-building,” he added.
Meanwhile, Cuepacs president Datuk Adnan Mat, who was also present at the celebration, said that the government must also consider increasing pensions to commensurate with the SSPA revision.
“This would help (the pensioners) as they, too, struggle with the current costs of living,” he said.
He also called upon civil servants to continue to excel in their work with the government in order to continue building the nation.
The announcement, made by the prime minister, has been met with widespread anticipation among civil servants, with hopes pinned on the anticipated revision of the SSPA to alleviate financial burdens.
In addition to the salary increase, Anwar also declared that civil servants’ total income, comprising minimum wage salaries and fixed allowances, should exceed RM2,000 per month starting this year. – May 1, 2024