42,807 workers had been displaced nationwide by June 12, with manufacturing accounting for 8,702 retrenchments, or 20.7% of the total, according to Human Resources Ministry data.
Rising operating costs and weakening global demand drove the losses, with wholesale and retail trade shedding 7,560 jobs and administrative and support services losing 4,239.
RM248.23 million in recommended EIS payouts has been approved across 134,123 benefit claims, covering job-search, reduced-income, re-employment and training support for affected workers.
More than RM580 million under the PACE resilience package is expected to support over 56,000 retrenched workers, while the government reviews the 2017 EIS law to raise benefits and add mobility assistance.
2,697 insured jobseekers were approved for modular training by April 24, and PERKESO held 2,989 career carnivals in the first five months as Malaysia tries to speed workers back into jobs.