Wage subsidy programme: Socso receives 345 complaints, 155 false claims

 

The Social Security Organisation (Socso) received 345 complaints against employers regarding payments under the Wage Subsidy Programme (WSP), with 155 cases involving false claims and misuse of the wage subsidies.

Human Resources Deputy Minister Awang Hashim (above) said, as of Oct 30, 331,950 employers' applications for the programme were received involving 2.7 million employees.

"Socso has received 345 cases of complaints against employers regarding payments under the WSP involving RM19,986,200. From the complaints received, 155 cases of false claims and misuse of WSP funds have been identified by Socso for action to reclaim payments from the employers.

"The ministry will temporarily suspend the payments to employers involved in false claims until the investigation on complaints is completed," he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was answering a question from Mahfuz Omar (Amanah-Pokok Sena) on the number of employers identified as making false claims under the WSP.

Meanwhile, answering a question from Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Permatang Pauh) on the amendment of the Employment Act 1955, Awang said his ministry was in the final stages of amendments by creating several new provisions.

The amendments include prohibiting discrimination against employees, extending the maternity leave period, prohibiting termination of employment due to pregnancy, introducing flexible working hours, and creating a seven-day paternity leave.

"A technical committee for the amendment of the Employment Act 1955 was also established under the National Labor Advisory Council and has already held a meeting to examine and detail the proposed amendments to this act," he said.

He said, however, job seekers were not covered under the Employment Act 1955 as it covered employees entering into or establishing an employment relationship with an employer via a basis of ‘contract of service’.

- Bernama