Socso pays out RM14.1 billion during Covid-19 crisis

 

Socso says it will continue the five initiatives under the 2021 Budget and the PERMAI stimulus package to ensure no one was left behind during this pandemic.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Social Security Organisation (Socso) has disbursed more than RM14.1 billion in assistance to over 350,000 employers, involving 2.7 million workers, under various stimulus packages announced by the government since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.

Its chief executive, Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said Socso was now continuing its efforts with five initiatives under the 2021 Budget and the Malaysian economic and rakyat’s protection assistance package (PERMAI) to ensure no one was left behind during this crisis.

“There’s PenjanaKerjaya which covers hiring incentive, training programmes and youth apprenticeship, extended job search allowance (JSA) under the Employment Insurance System (EIS) and targeted wage subsidy programme for the tourism and retail industry, which was also extended for one month to all employers affected by the implementation of the movement control order (MCO).”

He was speaking at the strategic partnership agreement signing between Socso and Universiti Malaya (UM) at the university here today. The event was also broadcast live on Socso’s Facebook page.

Azman said the other initiatives under Socso include the SPS Lindung, a fully-subsidised contribution by the government for 100,000 workers from the targeted groups under the self-employed Social Security Scheme and the Covid-19 screening programme for foreign workers nationwide.

“Socso is committed to do the most within its capacity in supporting the people and economy as efficient administration of social security is the key to managing rising unemployment and sustaining livelihoods of people during this pandemic,” he said.

Socso and UM today signed a five-year strategic partnership agreement, setting a plan of action for the university’s social wellbeing research centre (SWRC), an Employees Provident Fund (EPF)-endowed centre.

The partnership focuses on three key strategic areas, namely, capacity building, research and advocacy with the aim to strengthen social security knowledge, and awareness among Socso employees and the public. - FMT