PETALING JAYA: The government is eyeing a year-end rollout of a cross-border worker protection scheme, with a feasibility study expected to be completed by March, says Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan (pic).
He said the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) has been instructed to finalise the study for Cabinet consideration following strong feedback from workers, unions and other stakeholders on the risks faced by Malaysians who work overseas but commute daily from home.
“These are not abstract concerns.
“When workers speak about protection and safety, they are describing real risks of being left exposed if something happens while earning a living,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Ramanan said hundreds of thousands of Malaysians cross international borders daily for work while continuing to support families at home, making it necessary for protection and responsibility to extend across borders.
The proposed scheme, he said, aims to close protection gaps, particularly in employment injury coverage that may not fully apply across national boundaries, by building on Malaysia’s existing Employment Injury Scheme administered by Perkeso.
“Employment injury protection is not only about medical treatment.
“It is about income security during recovery, providing support for families, and ensuring that workers are not left exposed to financial hardship because of circumstances beyond their control,” he said.
Ramanan said the suggested coverage would include key benefits from the Employment Injury Scheme, such as medical care, income support while recovering from temporary injuries, compensation for permanent injuries, benefits for families if a worker dies due to work, and help with physical rehabilitation and education.
“These protections are about recovery and dignity.
“These protections ensure that an accident that occurs while earning a living does not push workers and their families into hardship,” he said.
He added that the initiative aligns with International Labour Organisation guidelines, noting that worker protection must evolve alongside changing work patterns.
“Cross-border employment is no longer an exception,” he said, adding that cross-border commuters are seeking basic assurance and fairness.
