Govt to study mechanism for protection of ‘workers without employers’

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THE government is studying a protection scheme for individuals categorised as ‘Workers Without Employers’ such as taxi drivers and farmers who are currently not eligible to contribute to the Social Security Organisation (Socso).

Human Resource Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Mutallib said the government was concerned over workers in that category and was working on finding a mechanism which would ensure their welfare while on duty.

“There is a 13.9 million active workforce in the country, of which 1.6 million are civil servants and 6.2 million, registered private sector employees.

“This means there are about six million workers in the category without employers, including taxi drivers, farmers and such,” he said when replying to an oral question from Su Keong Siong (DAP-Ipoh Timur) at the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday. Su wanted the ministry to state the categories of workers who were protected under Socso and the amount of contributions to Socso made by employers and workers, as well as the amount paid to contributors and their beneficiaries in the last five years. — Bernama

Ismail, who is also Maran member of parliament said of the six million workers, there were workers with employers but were not registered with Socso, and in this matter, it was necessary to have the commitment of the employers.

“In addition, we need to think of ways to widen the insurance coverage for this group (without employers),” he added.

He said the ministry had sent its officials to Japan and Korea to study how these countries provided protection to its ‘workers without employers’.

Meanwhile, Ismail said between 2010 and last year, employers had contributed RM11.7 billion to Socso while RM10 billion had been paid out as compensation to contributors and beneficiaries.

He said various programmes had been held to encourage employers to contribute to Socso and help workers involoved in accidents to return to work, adding the ministry also conducted operations to track down and prosecute employers who failed to register their workers with Socso. — Bernama