Socso paid RM11.19mil in compensation to those infected with Covid-19 at workplaces

PENDANG (Bernama): The Social Security Organisation (Socso) has paid over RM11.19mil in compensation to 15,036 people infected with Covid-19 at workplaces as of Sept 18.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim said that of the total, more than RM10mil was paid to 13,170 local workers, while over RM1mil was paid to 1,866 foreign workers.

"Apart from that, more than RM3.5mil was paid out for the funeral arrangements of 1,792 locals who died of Covid-19.

"As for fatalities involving foreign workers, Socso paid RM3,500 for the funeral arrangement of two cases," he told a media conference after observing the Covid-19 Immunisation Outreach Programme in the Pendang District here Sunday (Sept 26).

The programme, organised by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH) together with the Pendang District Health Ofice, was also attended by Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.

Commenting on the programme, Awang, who is also Pendang MP, said it was the ministry's initiative through NCOSH to raise the vaccination rate among adults in the district.

"We are aware of the fact, as announced by the Health Minister (Khairy Jamaluddin) that the rate for full vaccination among adults eligible for vaccine jabs in the district is still low, at 51.16% or 38,115 people (as of Saturday, Sept 25).

"As such, we are helping to expedite the vaccination process among the residents by going to the villages to help raise the number of registrants and awareness on the importance of vaccination towards creating herd immunity," he said.

Awang said that, so far, the outreach programme had been implemented in several areas in the Pendang district, namely in Kampung Bukit Tegur, Keda Lahar Tunjung, Keda Asam Jawa and Keda Tanjung Setul.

"Similar programmes are being planned for several other districts in Kedah with a low rate of vaccination, such as Sik and Baling... such efforts will also be extended in a bid to speed up the transition (of Kedah) to Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan," he said. – Bernama