PETALING JAYA: Workers should bear the extra cost for the proposed 24-hour comprehensive social security coverage for the private sector, says the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF).
Its president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said currently, the Social Security Organisation (Socso) Employment Injury Scheme was limited to employment injuries during working hours, including during commuting.
He said bosses were required to contribute 1.25% towards the Employment Injury Scheme, with workers spared any charge.
“When the Employment Injury Scheme is extended to 24 hours, workers should cover the additional cost of extending the coverage by an additional 12 hours.
“The cost of such coverage would require an additional contribution of 1.25% of employees’ monthly wages towards the scheme.
“MEF believes that the additional employee contributions towards the 24 hours Socso’s Employment Injury Scheme should be implemented in stages so as not to impose severe financial burden on workers,” he said yesterday.
On Thursday, the government announced plans for a round-the-clock protection plan for workers.
Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad told Parliament that Socso would be looking into a new framework to offer 24-hour comprehensive social security coverage beyond their working hours.
The framework is expected to benefit about 7.6 million workers in the country.
Syed Hussain believed that the proposed comprehensive social security coverage would benefit all private sector workers including foreigners.
He said the proposed coverage would eliminate the issue of determining whether an injury suffered by a worker amounted to an employment injury or otherwise, making Socso claims easier to resolve.
Unions have expressed positive feedback on the proposed comprehensive coverage, and have called for immediate implementation.
