Gerakan Wanita Secretary General, Jayanthi Devi Balaguru suggests the government to alter the tax relief for employed women and the disabled in the 2013 Budget. This will encourage women devoting themselves in employment and also will improve the welfare for the disabled in order to become a high-income nation and a heart-warming society.

Jayanthi said that our country is facing a huge talents loss when qualified and educated women stop working to look after their families after they are married. It is reported that about 48 percent of women in the 25-39 age group exited from labour force because of marriage, child-bearing, child-rearing and so on. This proposed incentive will assist these women to continue their contribution to the country. The rise in women’s labour force participation rate will increase double-income households and reduce the poverty level.

“In view of this, I propose an additional tax relief of RM5,000 for taxpayers if their spouse is having a source of income. In addition, a tax relief of RM4,000 should also be given to parents who are acquiring the childcare services. I also suggest a tax relief of RM4,000 to be given to the homecare services for the elderly at home. A tax relief of RM2,000 is also suggested to be given to a cleaner who is permanent or part-time.” said Jayanthi, who is also KLFT Gerakan Wanita chief.

Jayanthi also added that the government should be more aware about the predicament of a disabled on tax relief alteration. Therefore, she suggests the government increase the tax relief for the disabled taxpayers from RM6,000 to RM8,000. Apart from this, a tax relief of RM6,000 instead of RM3,500 for a disabled spouse, children or parents. An additional tax relief for a disabled child who is pursuing tertiary education is suggested to be increased to RM6,000 from the current RM4,000. In addition, she also proposes a new tax relief of RM5,000 for a disabled child who is enrolling in special education or counseling programs. Furthermore, tax relief for the disabled to buy disability equipments to be increased from RM5,000 to RM7,000