KUALA LUMPUR: A girl can be as young as 12 to be eligible to sign up for the Housewives Social Security Scheme (SKSSR), says the Social Security Organisation (Socso).With the scheme acting like personal accident coverage, Socso said the protection is valid as long as the girl helps with simple house chores or provides care to her family members.
The scheme requires a contribution of RM120 a year, which can be made by the child’s parents or guardian.
Socso Synergy Department’s head of branch Rohana Mohamad said many had the perception that the SKSSR was only meant for married women or housewives.
“This is not true, as it is open to all Malaysian women below 55 for now, with plans to increase the age limit underway.
“They can be as young as 12, as we have come across such a case of a young girl who helps with looking after the elderly in her family,” she said when met at the Menara Perkeso here yesterday.
For salaried women who are covered by Socso through their employment, Rohana said the SKSSR is a voluntary protection scheme for them when they are off work.
“When you are at work, you are covered under the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 or Act 4 for any disasters at work or when travelling for work.
“When you are off work, you will be protected under the Housewives Social Security Act or Act 838.
“The SKSSR will be another layer of protection because accidents happen at home or when we are outside,” she said.
And for those who are allowed to work from home, she said such workers are still covered under Act 4.
Rohana also called on more husbands to sign up and contribute on behalf of their wives, as the sign-up rate remains lukewarm.
During a press conference, Socso Social Security Committee for Housewives chairman Kasthuri Patto, who was also present, said only 253,794 women have registered for SKSSR as of April 21 this year.
The Chinese and Orang Asli in the peninsula made up the smallest proportion of those who signed up, with 10,399 ethnic Chinese women and 472 Orang Asli women joining.
The rest included 137,796 women of Malay ethnicity, Indian (17,034), bumiputra in Sabah (20,631), bumiputra in Sarawak (19,204), and others (48,258).
For the states, Sarawak leads with 56,128 registrations, followed by Sabah (49,780), Selangor (16,867), Johor (16,588), Terengganu (16,348), Kelantan (15,489), Perak (15,397), Penang (13,953), Kedah (13,855), Negri Sembilan (11,161), Pahang (9,154), Melaka (8,056), and Perlis (3,725).
The total number of registrations in the three Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan was 7,293.
Due to the low sign-up rate, Kasthuri said Socso was embarking on a nationwide roadshow this month, beginning in Kuala Lumpur.
She said seven roadshows have been planned so far, from May to July, to be held at the Wisma Perkeso on Jalan Tun Razak.
The dates are May 6, 7, and 13; as well as July 2, 12, 18, and 23.
The SKSSR was implemented on Dec 1, 2022, under Act 838 to provide social security protection to both married and unmarried women against domestic injury, illnesses and invalidity while managing their households.
The scheme requires a contribution of only RM120 a year, which can be made either by the woman or her husband, family members, or any other third party.
