RM70m more to Socso for EIS

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today announced an allocation of RM70 million to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) for financial benefit payments under the Employment Insurance System (EIS) for the year 2018, in addition to the RM52 million allocated earlier to Socso under the 10th Malaysia Plan.
He said EIS would allow retrenched private sector workers to receive temporary financial aid while they were looking for a new job.
On the "Self-Employment Social Security Scheme", Najib said the government is mulling expanding its reach to other informal job categories in stages, covering fishermen, farmers, peddlers and artists.
He said the scheme in its current form, which will be enforced beginning June 1, will provide protection to about 100,000 self-employed taxi drivers as well as those working in e-hailing services.
"Through this scheme, self-employed workers who are insured would be protected in the event of an accident during work or if they (suffer from) occupational diseases," he said at a Labour Day event at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
Najib said the Labour Day celebrations in Malaysia this year was held in a peaceful manner, unlike in other countries where it was marred by controversy, altercations and protests.
"This is (due to) to the harmonious relationship between trade unions, employers and the government," he said. — Bernama