Socso committed to implementing programmes under Permai aid package

PETALING JAYA: The Social Security Organisation (Socso) is committed to implementing improved assistance for employers and employees in the various programmes outlined in the recently announced Perlindungan Ekonomi dan Rakyat Malaysia (Permai) assistance package.

The programmes are the Wage Subsidy Programme 3.0 (WSP 3.0), SPS Lindung and the Covid-19 screening of foreign workers, said Socso in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 19).

Under the WSP 3.0, all sectors excluding retail and tourism, are eligible to receive a wage subsidy of RM600 for each employee earning less than RM4,000 per month.

“With an additional allocation of RM1bil, the government has also raised the limit of 200 employers per application to 500 employees, of which 250,000 employers employing more than 2.6 million employees are expected to benefit from this initiative," said the organisation.

For those who lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Socso said the Job Seeking Allowance (JSA) has been improved and extended through the SIP Prihatin Programme under Budget 2021.

Under the new relaxed conditions of the JSA, employees who do not meet the minimum qualifying contribution, or whose contract was not extended after having been renewed for at least three times previously, are now eligible to apply for the SIP Prihatin assistance.

“They are eligible to receive JSA of 30% of their monthly salary for a period of three months, ” Socso added.

At the same time, Socso also appealed to delivery riders to register with the SPS Lindung Programme for protection against work-related accidents.

Under the SPS Lindung Programme, the government provides full contribution for one-year protection through Plan 2 of the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme, added Socso.

Socso reminded employers that the cost of test kits for the Covid-19 screening programme for foreign workers will be fully borne by Socso.

“Socso urges employers who have not sent their foreign workers for Covid-19 screening to immediately make an appointment with participating clinics.

“To date, only about 18% of foreign workers registered with Socso have undergone the Covid-19 screening through this programme.”