KUALA LUMPUR: Contributions to the PERKESO Lindung 24 Jam scheme will be optional for local workers starting Monday (July 13), following a Cabinet decision and directives from the Human Resources Minister.
PERKESO group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said PERKESO had taken note of the policy shift and added that the scheme remains mandatory for foreign workers.
He urged local workers to continue contributing, saying the low monthly deduction should be seen as an important safeguard providing income replacement for accidents outside working hours, not a burden.
“According to statistics, PERKESO recorded an average of about 27 cases per day for Lindung 24 Jam benefit distribution, totaling almost RM2mil within a month of the scheme taking effect,” he said at a special press conference at PERKESO headquarters here on Thursday (July 10).
“This is higher than the approximately 13 cases per day that PERKESO rejected in 2025 because they were categorised as non-work-related accidents,” he added.
Mohammed Azman said policy changes could affect the fund’s sustainability and the long-term effectiveness of benefit distribution, adding that a review of the scheme’s implementation mechanism with the Human Resources Ministry would occur by year-end.
He said PERKESO will continue providing clear information so workers can make informed decisions about their future and their families.
Those who do not wish to remain under Lindung 24 Jam can opt out by signing a liability release form, which serves as a legal basis for future disputes, particularly involving accidents outside working hours.
He said the form is necessary because the scheme is enforced under the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4), and contributors who opt out must be exempted from its application.
