Budget 2023: Govt to bear 80% of Socso contributions for gig economy workers

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will bear 80% of Socso contributions for gig economy workers, says Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

According to the Finance Minister, aside from those involved in food delivery and ehailing, farmers, fishermen, artists under Finas and hawkers will also benefit from this initiative.

The government will also be making Socso's Self-Employed Social Security Scheme contributions mandatory for all self-employed sectors in stages, he added.

Meanwhile, to encourage marginalised groups such as OKUs, ex-convicts, Orang Asli and women to rejoin the workforce, the government has set aside RM150mil as an employment incentive.

Those eligible to receive the incentive will each receive between RM600 and RM700 a month for three months.

Job hunters from Sabah and Sarawak will also receive a one-off RM1,000 mobility assistance payment to help them secure jobs in Peninsular Malaysia. Those from the peninsula looking for jobs in Sabah and Sarawak will also receive the assistance.