KUALA LUMPUR; More than 2,000 compound notices have been issued against employers since July for failing to register their businesses or employees with the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), or for failing to make mandatory contributions.
PERKESO deputy chief executive (Operations) Azirruan Arifin said the notices involved offences under the Employees’ Social Security Act, Employment Insurance Act and Self-Employment Social Security Act.
He added that under Ops Kesan 2.0 on Tuesday (Sept 22), some 159 enforcement checks were carried out nationwide, resulting in 14 notices issued for related offences as of 11.30am.
“We expect these numbers to rise until operations end at 6pm,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the operation here on Tuesday (Sept 22).
Operations in the Klang Valley centred on Pasar Seni, Brickfields, Pudu and Bandar Baharu Ampang.
According to him, among the most common excuses given were that employers did not know contributions were mandatory.
“There were also cases where employees requested their employers not to make contributions,” he said.
Some 300 officers from 54 PERKESO offices nationwide are involved in the operation which targeted employers, platform providers and self-employed workers, among others.
Since 2020, he said 25,011 compound notices amounting to RM15mil have also been issued against employers for failing to register their businesses or employees with PERKESO.
Some 21,177 cases have also been charged in court for various offences during the same period.
Under current legislation, non-compliant employees can be fined up to RM10,000 or face two years in jail, or both.
Azirruan further stressed the importance of making contributions, noting that unwanted incidents can happen at any time.
“The benefits provided are not only for workers themselves, if they are in unwanted situations, but also their families.
“Workers too should know their rights, which includes having social security protection,” he said.
He also urged those who did not have PERKESO coverage to lodge complaints with nearby PERKESO offices.
“We will then perform a site visit and ensure the employees receive their contributions “ he said.
Azirruan stressed that the identity of complainants will be kept anonymous as well.
He also said PERKESO is working closely with embassies and related agencies to ensure foreign workers too have contributions.
On a related matter, Azirruan said platform providers must also ensure the registration and contributions for gig workers are made in an orderly manner as stipulated under the Gig Workers Act.
He noted that 1.17 million gig workers have already been registered.
“Enforcement will begin on Oct 1,” he said.
