Brunei government maintains subsidies on rice, fuel

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Brunei government will continue maintaining subsidies on essential commodities such as rice and fuel at their existing levels despite rising global living costs, a government minister said on Monday.

Speaking during a session of the Legislative Council, Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, minister at the Prime Minister's Office and second minister of Finance and Economy, said the subsidies play a crucial role in protecting the public from inflationary pressures.

The minister noted that the government has adopted prudent measures to maintain domestic economic stability and safeguard the welfare of citizens, particularly low-income earners.

He said the policies are important as global supply chain disruptions and uncertainty in international oil prices, driven by geopolitical tensions, continue to affect economies worldwide.

In addition to subsidies, the government has implemented several social protection measures to support workers.

These include the introduction of minimum wages and the implementation of the National Retirement Scheme, as well as highlighted efforts to sustain employment by coordinating training programmes with industries to enhance workforce skills. Enditem