Sincere gesture: Sim (left) handing out donations during the buka puasa event. — ART CHEN/The Star
PETALING JAYA: There is an alarming number of non-work-related accidents recorded in the first month of this year with 177 cases, according to the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO).
The statistics also saw 3,906 cases recorded as work-related accidents out of a total of 7,137 accidents reported to PERKESO throughout January.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim expressed concern as the 177 workers had no protection.
Although the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4) provides protection for employees, it only applies if their accident is certified as a work-related accident or occupational disease, he said.
“The figures are worrying. Last year’s data showed that 80,166 accident cases were reported to PERKESO, with an average of 6,680 cases per month or 219 cases per day.
In January alone, the number of non-work-related accidents reached 200 cases.
“We must remember 177 represents workers who are also husbands, wives, mothers, fathers and children, who did not receive protection from PERKESO because their cases were not defined as work-related accidents,” he said during the ministry’s buka puasa event yesterday.
Also present were the ministry’s deputy secretary-general for policy and international affairs Dr Mohd Shaharin Umar, PERKESO board chairman Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal and PERKESO group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed.
Sim added that the high number of work-related accidents requires special attention with more prevention and awareness programmes that should be implemented by employers and employees.
Additionally, Sim said that PERKESO had completed benefit payments totalling more than RM5.82bil to 871,949 recipients in 2024 under Act 4.
This number is higher compared to the benefit payments in 2023 with RM5.48bil for 920,368 recipients and RM4.92bil in 2022 involving 866,666 recipients.
“Last year, the benefit payment for the survivor’s pension recorded the highest number with RM2.412bil, followed by the invalidity pension and invalidity assistance worth RM1.195bil, and RM627mil went for Permanent Disability Benefits.
“Through the enforcement of the new ceiling salary from RM5,000 to RM6,000 for contribution purposes starting from Oct 1, 2024, it has translated to better and wider benefit payments for contributors,” he said.
