SANDAKAN: More than RM20mil in benefits has been paid to 12,582 eligible contributors and dependants nationwide in just five months under the Social Security Organisation's (PERKESO) Lindung 24 Jam scheme.
Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said the payouts totalled RM20.23mil as of Oct 31, including more than RM481,000 disbursed to 373 recipients in Sabah.
The scheme, which came into effect on June 1, provides protection against non-work-related accidents, including those occurring at home or outside working hours.
"If an accident or injury occurs at home or outside the workplace, they may be eligible to make claims and receive compensation and other benefits," he told reporters at the Kenduri Rakyat Lindung@Batu Sapi programme on Saturday (Nov 14).
Khairul Firdaus, who is also Batu Sapi MP, said programmes such as the one held in Batu Sapi were part of efforts to familiarise communities with the relatively new scheme and the protection available to them.
"This is the best opportunity for the community, especially those in the Batu Sapi parliamentary constituency, to better understand the products provided by PERKESO," he said.
He said bringing information and services directly to the people was particularly important for communities in rural and outlying areas, where access to government agencies could be more challenging.
The programme allowed residents to speak directly with PERKESO representatives, obtain advice on social protection schemes and undergo free health screenings without having to visit its offices.
Khairul Firdaus said public education was essential to encouraging greater participation in the scheme, which extends protection to eligible workers beyond their normal working hours.
"This is an effort by the ministry and its agencies to get closer to the community. Such efforts can only succeed through education," he said.
He encouraged more workers to contribute to LINDUNG 24 Jam, while those who had previously opted out were urged to rejoin the scheme.
The programme also brought together agencies under the Human Resources Ministry, including the Sabah Labour Department and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), to provide information and services to residents.
