ELIGIBLE employees of Sunshine Wholesale Mart will now be receiving their cost of living allowance (COLA) or staff allowance via digital wallet, instead of physical Sunshine vouchers.
The employee e-wallet programme is touted to be the first of its kind in the country.
Sunshine Wholesale Mart Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Cynthia Hwang said the programme would enable the company to credit the monthly COLA into their staff’s digital wallet.
“On average, Sunshine pays out about RM500,000 in COLA and staff allowance per year. In the past, the allowances were given to employees in the form of physical vouchers.
“Now, we have collaborated with Boost to utilise the Boost Partner Wallet feature. Our employees will be able to shop cashlessly at all our Sunshine retail outlets,” she said before the official launching of the Sunshine Staff E-Wallet programme at Sunshine Square today.
Cynthia said the amount of allowances given varies according to the staff’s year of service; ranging from RM150 to RM250 per month.
Boost director of merchants Eric Chong said the company was thankful for the collaboration between Boost and Sunshine.
“The programme allows seamless transaction for the employees.
“We have 7.6 million customers and 180,000 merchants.
“Besides assisting merchants, we strive to help micro-merchants to move their businesses online,” he said.
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin stressed the importance of businesses adopting and embracing the digital economy.
“Businesses stand to lose out if they do not embrace the digital economy as there are tremendous opportunities there,” he said.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted business operations besides health.
“The pandemic has changed the way businesses are conducted and how things are done.
“People must realise that digital economy is the way forward and it is important for us to be part of it.
“The opportunity (of going digital) is great and limitless,” he said.
Chow also spoke about the Penang government’s efforts to facilitate the digital economy.
“The efforts consist of three pillars – to get ready the digital infrastructure, to create a digital platform for the people to conduct their businesses, and to formulate policies to drive digitalisation.
“No doubt that there will be challenges. The public-private partnership is the way forward,” Chow said.
He advised the public not to waste the ‘crisis’ brought by the pandemic.
“This crisis brought disruptions, and it can either lift you up or pull you down.
“It is up to you to grab the opportunity that comes with the crisis,” he said.
Also present were Sunshine Wholesale Mart Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Hwang Thean Long and Sunshine Wholesale Mart Sdn Bhd director Yee Kam Ming.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Chan Kok Kuan