The govt introduces special initiatives such as PenjanaGig Programme, SPS Lindung, KerjayaGig and SPS Prihatin Wanita to attract more OBS to contribute

by HARIZAH KAMEL / pic by TMR FILE

ONLY 5.43% of the self-employed (OBS) have registered to the Social Security Organisation’s (Socso) Self-employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS).

CEO Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said as of May 30, 2021, statistics showed that a total of 147,702 active contributors are registered and contributing under SKSPS.

“Socso expects more OBS to contribute under this scheme, as the statistics showed are minuscule which is only 5.43% compared to the total number of OBS in the country at around 2.72 million people.

“In an effort to promote SKSPS to the target group among OBS, the government has introduced several special initiatives such as PenjanaGig Programme, SPS Lindung, KerjayaGig and SPS Prihatin Wanita to attract more OBS to contribute,” he said during Socso’s virtual official launching of SPS Lindung yesterday.

Under the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017 (Act 789), the self-employed in the informal sector are protected by Socso through SKSPS.

With contributions as low as RM157.20 per year or RM13.10 a month, self-employed individuals will be protected from employment disasters under the scheme.

On that note, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri has officially launched SPS Lindung for mosque representatives managed by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) consisting takmir teachers, imam, bilal, siak, noja and merbut throughout the country.

SPS Lindung was introduced by the government during Budget 2021 with an allocation of RM24 million.

Dr Zulkifli said Jakim, in collaboration with the State Islamic Religious Department and Council and Socso, has collected and registered a total of 25,634 imams, bilal, siak, noja, merbut and takmir teachers since March 18, 2021.

Government assistance through SPS Lindung is in the form of full funding of SKSPS contributions under Plan 2, which is RM232.80 for protection of one year.

“Socso offers an insured contribution option of RM19.40 per month equivalent to RM232 per year. A total allocation of RM5,967,595.20 per year has been channelled by the government to Socso this year,” he said.

In addition, Jakim has also allocated RM6.9 million annually since 2019 for Socso contributions to 35,000 Kafa teachers.

The allocation is channeled to the Kafa implementing agency at state level, the State Religious Authorities.

All Kafa teachers who are appointed are contributors in Socso and are eligible for its benefits depending on the terms and conditions that have been set.

Commenting whether the haj pilgrimage is allowed this season, Dr Zulkifli said the government is still waiting for an official response from the Saudi government.

“I am sure before the haj season, we should get an answer,” added the minister.