Register with Socso or face RM1, 000 fine, self-employed drivers told

KUALA LUMPUR: The Social Security Organisation (Socso) will be launching an operation in August to compel self-employed taxi, bus and e-hailing drivers to register under its Self-Employed Employment Injury Scheme (SEEIS).

According to Socso, only 35, 737 or 10% of some 350, 000 of such drivers had registered and made contributions.

The Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017 (Act 789), which came into effect on June 1, 2017, mandates that these drivers, whether they work full-time or part-time, register under SEEIS.

Socso deputy chief of operations John R. Marin said self-employed drivers found to be unregistered would be issued a warning.

If drivers failed to present themselves with proof of registration at the nearest Socso office within seven days of being issued a warning notice, these drivers would be slapped with a minimum fine of RM1, 000, he said.

“The move to impose fines was taken after the two-year grace period given to drivers when Act 789 was introduced (in 2017), ” he told reporters after launching Ops Patuh at Wisma Perkeso on Thursday (Aug 1).

Marin said Ops Patuh would involve about 400 Socso officers in the Klang Valley. Going undercover as prospective customers, they would be issuing warning notices to unregistered self-employed drivers.

The operation would be carried out throughout the month of August, Marin added.

“The enforcement is not to serve as a burden to drivers; instead, it is to ensure that social security is provided to these drivers and their families in case an accident happens.”

According to Marin, the minimum contribution for the SEEIS was just RM13.10 a month or 43 sen a day, while the maximum contribution stood at RM49.35 a month or RM1.60 a day.

“SEEIS has been practiced for a long time in many countries, including Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia.”

Marin also said it was the government’s aim to ensure that every worker in Malaysia was protected under a social security scheme.

“However, the success and the reach of this scheme depends on the acceptance and support of all taxi and e-hailing drivers.”

Marin added that the SEEIS was expected to include other self-employed jobs in sectors like farming, fishing and food delivery like GrabFood and Food Panda.