The Human Resources Ministry will propose to the cabinet to provide free Social Security Organisation (Socso) protection for about two million B40 (bottom 40 percent income earner) housewives nationwide.
Human Resources Minister M Saravanan said they saw a need to protect the group who had been affected by the pandemic, especially when husbands could not go out to work.
"However, this will depend on the government's financial position... in this pandemic situation, if the husband is out of work and the wife has some chronic illness, they have no safety net.
"As a government that cares and prioritises the people’s welfare, we recommend this move be considered to provide two million B40 housewives with a free safety net protection," he said.
Saravanan (above) was speaking after presenting Socso benefits to the widow of the late Vijaya Kumaran T Veerasamy in Kuala Lumpur today.
Vijaya died on May 21 after suffering brain damage following a road accident on April 12, last year.
Prior to this, the deceased's medical treatment including an implant surgery amounting to RM23,000 was fully paid by Socso.
Earlier the government agreed to make contribution payments for some 150,000 women in the B40 group registered under e-Kasih.
Meanwhile, on the labour shortage in the plantation sector, Saravanan said the country currently needs 100,000 workers in the sector but the ministry continues to prioritise locals to fill the job vacancies.
“Foreign workers will be hired as a last resort,” he said, adding that priority would continue to be given to locals, despite pressure from plantation sector employers.
- Bernama
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