Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email On average, foreign workers send back RM720 per month, the total being Rm9.12 billion up to June 2008. According to Deputy PM Najib, its expected to reach RM18.1 billion by year end. The number of foreign workers up to July 31 is 2.1 million (which in Bolehland means it can easily be double of that!).
Imagine a foreigner sending back RM720 per month (yeah, I know, on AVERAGE). If his/her cost of living is about RM500, that would mean a take-home pay of RM1200. I doubt this includes expatriates as they are in different category.
Do you know that RM720 is the newly revised household income value criteria used by Welfare Department to provide welfare assistance in Peninsular Malaysia?
The Government empathises with the difficulties faced by the lower income group, arising from the higher cost of living. In this regard, the Government has raised the eligibility criteria for welfare assistance under the Welfare Department, from a monthly household income of RM400 to RM720 for Peninsular Malaysia, RM830 for Sarawak and RM960 for Sabah. With this increase, the number of eligible recipients is expected to double from 54,000 households to 110,000. This includes an increase in the number of eligible senior citizens from 14,000 to 40,000. For this purpose, an additional RM500 million is allocated.
– From PM’s Budget 2009 Speech (here).
Obviously for a foreign worker, there are less “side” expenses. Most things are free – provided by the employers.
What do you make out of this – the amount a foreign workers sends home is same as the amount a poor family earns (following Welfare Department criteria)?
