PARLIAMENT | The Human Resources Ministry today withdrew the Employment Insurance System (EIS) Bill.

The bill was slated in the Order Paper but Human Resources Minister Richard Riot announced that he was withdrawing it.

In a press statement later, the Human Resources Ministry said the bill was withdrawn to pave the way for the tabling of a new EIS bill tomorrow.

The new EIS bill is expected to be tabled for a second reading on either Wednesday or Thursday, the ministry confirmed.

"The government is committed to implementing the EIS in January 2018," it added.

Later, when pressed about details of the new bill, Riot said it would be largely similar to what was previously mooted, except for some "minor amendments".

The EIS Bill was tabled on Aug 1, but Putrajaya pulled it from the Order Paper three days later in order to engage with stakeholders.

The system is a conditional unemployment benefits scheme, aiming to provide decremental compensation to workers for up to six months, funded by employees and employers monthly.

A maximum claim of RM4,000 can be made in the first month of unemployment. The amount that can be claimed will be reduced in subsequent months, up until the six-month limit.

Employees must have contributed to the fund for at least 12 months before qualifying for a claim.

Earlier this month, the minister had stated that the EIS contribution rate would be lowered to 0.2 percent from 0.5 percent as previously mooted by the government.

Meanwhile, apart from the EIS Bill, the Stamp (Amendment) Bill was also withdrawn from being debated in this parliamentary session.